Memory improves precision of cell sensing in fluctuating environments.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Aquino G
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4097367 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Memory improves precision of cell sensing in fluctuating environments.
Aquino Gerardo G Tweedy Luke L Heinrich Doris D Endres Robert G RG
Scientific reports 20140714
Biological cells are often found to sense their chemical environment near the single-molecule detection limit. Surprisingly, this precision is higher than simple estimates of the fundamental physical limit, hinting towards active sensing strategies. In this work, we analyse the effect of cell memory, e.g. from slow biochemical processes, on the precision of sensing by cell-surface receptors. We derive analytical formulas, which show that memory significantly improves sensing in weakly fluctuatin ...[more]
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