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Updated: Aug 6, 2025
09:48
Discrimination and Characterization of Heterocellular Populations Using Quantitative Imaging Techniques
Published on: June 30, 2017
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The ability to sense the environment is heterogeneously distributed in cell populations
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|March 22, 2023
Summary
Cell sensing abilities vary greatly, with most cells detecting environmental signals better than previously thought. This study introduces a new framework to analyze these sensing capabilities using single-cell data.
Area of Science:
- Cellular Biology
- Systems Biology
- Information Theory
Background:
- Cellular signaling networks are crucial for detecting environmental cues.
- Previous estimates suggested limited sensing fidelity in mammalian cells.
- Cellular heterogeneity may influence sensing capabilities.
Approach:
- Developed an information-theoretic framework to analyze single-cell data.
- Quantified the distribution of channel capacities within cell populations.
- Utilized data from two mammalian signaling pathways.
Key Points:
- Sensing abilities are widely distributed across cell populations.
- Most individual cells exhibit superior input resolution compared to the population average.
- Identified specific cell state variables correlating with sensing ability.
Conclusions:
- Cellular sensing fidelity is state-dependent and highly variable.
- The proposed framework enhances understanding of cellular environmental sensing.
- This approach reveals a more nuanced view of cellular information processing.
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