Fluctuation theorem applied to Dictyostelium discoideum system

TL;DR

This study applies the fluctuation theorem from non-equilibrium statistical mechanics to analyze the electrotactic movement of Dictyostelium discoideum, aiming to develop a phenomenological model of its cellular trajectories.

Contribution

It introduces the application of the fluctuation theorem to cellular electrotaxis, bridging physics and biology for the first time in this context.

Findings

Validation of fluctuation theorem in cellular movement

Development of a phenomenological model for electrotaxis

Insights into non-equilibrium behavior of cells

Abstract

In this paper, we analyze the electrotactic movement of Dictyostelium discoideum from the viewpoint of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. Because we can observe fluctuating behavior of cellular trajectories, we analyze the probability distribution of the trajectories with the aid of the fluctuation theorem. Recently, the validity of the fluctuation theorem was verified in a colloidal system, and it has also been applied to granular systems, turbulent systems and chemical oscillatory waves to investigate some of their statistical properties that are not yet completely understood. Noting that the fluctuation theorem is potentially applicable to cellular electrotaxis, here we employ it to help us obtain a phenomenological model of this biological system.