Universal minimal cost of coherent biochemical oscillations

TL;DR

This paper proposes a universal lower bound on the free energy required for biochemical oscillators to sustain a certain number of coherent cycles, applicable to general Markov processes and supported by numerical evidence.

Contribution

It introduces a universal conjecture linking free energy consumption to coherence in biochemical clocks, validated through simulations and experimental data.

Findings

Minimum free energy cost per oscillation is 4π²N k_B T for N oscillations.

The bound applies broadly to finite Markov processes.

Numerical simulations support the conjecture.

Abstract

Biochemical clocks are essential for virtually all living systems. A biochemical clock that is isolated from an external periodic signal and subjected to fluctuations can oscillate coherently only for a finite number of oscillations. Furthermore, such an autonomous clock can oscillate only if it consumes free energy. What is the minimum amount of free energy consumption required for a certain number of coherent oscillations? We conjecture a universal bound that answers this question. A system that oscillates coherently for $\mathcal{N}$ oscillations has a minimal free energy cost per oscillation of $4\pi^2\mathcal{N} k_B T$. Our bound is valid for general finite Markov processes, is conjectured based on extensive numerical evidence, is illustrated with numerical simulations of a known model for a biochemical oscillator, and applies to existing experimental data.