Deciphering the Interface Laws of Turing Mixtures and Foams

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Weyer, Henrik, Roth, Tobias A., Frey, Erwin
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2024
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author Weyer, Henrik
Roth, Tobias A.
Frey, Erwin
author_facet Weyer, Henrik
Roth, Tobias A.
Frey, Erwin
contents For cellular functions like division and polarization, protein pattern formation driven by NTPase cycles is a central spatial control strategy. Operating far from equilibrium, no general theory links microscopic reaction networks and parameters to the pattern type and dynamics. We discover a generic mechanism giving rise to an effective interfacial tension organizing the macroscopic structure of non-equilibrium steady-state patterns. Namely, maintaining protein-density interfaces by cyclic protein attachment and detachment produces curvature-dependent protein redistribution which straightens the interface. We develop a non-equilibrium Neumann angle law and Plateau vertex conditions for interface junctions and mesh patterns, thus introducing the concepts of ``Turing mixtures'' and ``Turing foams''. In contrast to liquid foams and mixtures, these non-equilibrium patterns can select an intrinsic wavelength by interrupting an equilibrium-like coarsening process. Data from in vitro experiments with the E. coli Min protein system verifies the vertex conditions and supports the wavelength dynamics. Our study uncovers interface laws with correspondence to thermodynamic relations that arise from distinct physical processes in active systems. It allows the design of specific pattern morphologies with potential applications as spatial control strategies in synthetic cells.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2409_20070
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Deciphering the Interface Laws of Turing Mixtures and Foams
Weyer, Henrik
Roth, Tobias A.
Frey, Erwin
Biological Physics
Soft Condensed Matter
Pattern Formation and Solitons
For cellular functions like division and polarization, protein pattern formation driven by NTPase cycles is a central spatial control strategy. Operating far from equilibrium, no general theory links microscopic reaction networks and parameters to the pattern type and dynamics. We discover a generic mechanism giving rise to an effective interfacial tension organizing the macroscopic structure of non-equilibrium steady-state patterns. Namely, maintaining protein-density interfaces by cyclic protein attachment and detachment produces curvature-dependent protein redistribution which straightens the interface. We develop a non-equilibrium Neumann angle law and Plateau vertex conditions for interface junctions and mesh patterns, thus introducing the concepts of ``Turing mixtures'' and ``Turing foams''. In contrast to liquid foams and mixtures, these non-equilibrium patterns can select an intrinsic wavelength by interrupting an equilibrium-like coarsening process. Data from in vitro experiments with the E. coli Min protein system verifies the vertex conditions and supports the wavelength dynamics. Our study uncovers interface laws with correspondence to thermodynamic relations that arise from distinct physical processes in active systems. It allows the design of specific pattern morphologies with potential applications as spatial control strategies in synthetic cells.
title Deciphering the Interface Laws of Turing Mixtures and Foams
topic Biological Physics
Soft Condensed Matter
Pattern Formation and Solitons
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.20070