The cell as a miniature computer

How can cells transmit the myriad environmental cues to which they are exposed in an efficient and reliable manner? Researchers from the FOM Institute AMOLF have shown that cells, like computers, can multiplex: cells can transmit multiple signals simultaneously via a single information path without these signals disrupting one another. The results will appear in the prestigious journal Physical Review Letters.

Signal Transduction
Cells have to continuously respond to changes in their environment, such as changes in the temperature or in their food supply. Therefore, they have to continuously transmit signals from their surroundings, across the cell membrane and to the nucleus in order to activate or deactivate genes. The communication lines in a cell, so called signal transduction networks, consist of proteins which physically and chemically interact. However, the production of proteins is energetically costly. Cells, therefore, do not have a communication line for each signal; rather, multiple signals are transmitted through a shared signal transduction network.

Simulations
Until now, it was unclear if a cell could simultaneously send multiple signals through such a shared network without these signals disrupting one another. Prof. dr. Pieter Rein ten Wolde and his group have now shown, using theoretical calculations and computer simulations, that this is indeed possible. They show that multiple inputs to the network can be reliably encoded in a single shared component of the signal transduction network. This multiplexed signal can then be transmitted and subsequently decoded to distinct output responses, each of which is specific for a single input. Biochemical signals can therefore be multiplexed, just like electronic signals.

Further information
Pieter Rein ten Wolde, AMOLF, +31-(0)20-754 7100, tenwoldeATamolf.nl

Reference
Multiplexing Biochemical Signals
Wiet de Ronde, Filipe Tostevin, and Pieter Rein ten Wolde
Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 048101 (2011). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.048101

Figure 1. Multiplexing. Two different signals - a growth factor and a differentiation factor - can be transmitted simultaneously through a network without disrupting each other.