Messenger size optimality in cellular communications

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the molecular size of chemical messengers affects cellular communication efficiency, revealing optimal mass ranges that balance synthesis, diffusion, and degradation for effective signaling.

Contribution

It introduces a physical model demonstrating the existence of optimal messenger sizes, offering new insights into biological communication design principles.

Findings

Optimal messenger sizes exist for efficient cellular communication.

The model links molecular mass with synthesis and diffusion costs.

Insights can guide engineering of biomimetic communication systems.

Abstract

Living cells presumably employ optimized information transfer methods, enabling efficient communication even in noisy environments. As expected, the efficiency of chemical communications between cells depends on the properties of the molecular messenger. Evidence suggests that proteins from narrow ranges of molecular masses have been naturally selected to mediate cellular communications, yet the underlying communication design principles are not understood. Using a simple physical model that considers the cost of chemical synthesis, diffusion, molecular binding, and degradation, we show that optimal mass values exist that ensure efficient communication of various types of signals. Our findings provide insights into the design principles of biological communications and can be used to engineer chemically communicating biomimetic systems.