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Topologically constrained fluctuations and thermodynamics regulate nonequilibrium response.

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This study reveals how microscopic details and thermodynamic forces limit a system's response to external changes. These findings apply to receptor binding, showing enhanced sensitivity beyond equilibrium predictions.

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Area of Science:

  • Statistical Mechanics
  • Physical Chemistry
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Understanding how microscopic properties influence macroscopic physical characteristics is crucial.
  • System responses to external perturbations are fundamental to many scientific disciplines.
  • Nonequilibrium thermodynamics provides a framework for analyzing systems driven by continuous energy flow.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To derive fundamental limits on the steady-state nonequilibrium response of physical observables.
  • To connect these limits to the topology of the microscopic state space and thermodynamic driving strength.
  • To explore the implications for biological systems, such as receptor binding.

Main Methods:

  • Derivation of response constraints based on state-space topology and thermodynamic driving.
  • Analysis of steady-state nonequilibrium conditions.
  • Application to models of receptor binding dynamics.

Main Results:

  • Identified fundamental limits on system response without requiring detailed kinetic information.
  • Demonstrated that these limits depend on the structure of the microscopic state space.
  • Found that sensitivity in receptor binding models is bounded by a Hill function.
  • Observed that chemical driving enhances the Hill coefficient beyond equilibrium structural limits.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides a general framework for understanding response limitations in driven systems.
  • Microscopic topology and thermodynamic driving are key determinants of system response.
  • Enhanced sensitivity in biological systems can be explained by nonequilibrium effects beyond equilibrium predictions.