Many Will Enter, Few Will Win: Cost and Sensitivity of Exploratory Dynamics

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Cellular Dynamics
• Systems Biology

Background:

• Biomolecular systems use exploratory dynamics for cellular functions.
• These dynamics often involve sampling paths and resetting to origin.
• Enhanced sensitivity to parameters can be achieved but incurs energetic costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate functional benefits of exploratory dynamics.
• Analyze trade-offs between energetic cost and sensitivity.
• Model specific systems like ribosome proofreading and microtubule dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Minimalist modeling of biological systems.
• Path-counting and circuit mapping approaches.
• Analysis of thermodynamic driving and energy dissipation.

Main Results:

• Driven hydrolysis in ribosomes improves substrate discrimination.
• Resetting cycles in microtubules enable catalytic control of length.
• Modest thermodynamic driving induces qualitative transitions to enhanced sensitivity.

Conclusions:

• Exploratory dynamics offer a mechanism for sensitive cellular control.
• Energy dissipation is a necessary cost for enhanced sensitivity.
• Minimalist models provide insights into fundamental biological processes.