Diffusion enhancement in bacterial cytoplasm through an active random force
Experiments have found that diffusion in metabolically active cells is much faster than in dormant cells, especially for large particles. However, the mechanism of this size-dependent diffusion enhancement in living cells is still unclear. In this Letter, we approximate the net effect of metabolic p...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Physical Society
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Physical Review Research |
| Online Access: | http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.5.L032018 |
| _version_ | 1797210441906126848 |
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| author | Lingyu Meng Yiteng Jin Yichao Guan Jiayi Xu Jie Lin |
| author_facet | Lingyu Meng Yiteng Jin Yichao Guan Jiayi Xu Jie Lin |
| author_sort | Lingyu Meng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Experiments have found that diffusion in metabolically active cells is much faster than in dormant cells, especially for large particles. However, the mechanism of this size-dependent diffusion enhancement in living cells is still unclear. In this Letter, we approximate the net effect of metabolic processes as a white-noise active force and simulate a model system of bacterial cytoplasm with a highly polydisperse particle size distribution. We find that diffusion enhancement in active cells relative to dormant cells can be more substantial for large particles. Our simulations agree quantitatively with the experimental data of Escherichia coli, suggesting an autocorrelation function of the active force proportional to the cube of the particle radius. We demonstrate that such a white-noise active force is equivalent to an active force of about 0.57 pN with random orientation. Our work unveils an emergent simplicity of random processes inside living cells. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:10:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5a5cc543e0a946e0bdc225d2e16a23c2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2643-1564 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:10:39Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | American Physical Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Physical Review Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-5a5cc543e0a946e0bdc225d2e16a23c22024-04-12T17:33:02ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642023-08-0153L03201810.1103/PhysRevResearch.5.L032018Diffusion enhancement in bacterial cytoplasm through an active random forceLingyu MengYiteng JinYichao GuanJiayi XuJie LinExperiments have found that diffusion in metabolically active cells is much faster than in dormant cells, especially for large particles. However, the mechanism of this size-dependent diffusion enhancement in living cells is still unclear. In this Letter, we approximate the net effect of metabolic processes as a white-noise active force and simulate a model system of bacterial cytoplasm with a highly polydisperse particle size distribution. We find that diffusion enhancement in active cells relative to dormant cells can be more substantial for large particles. Our simulations agree quantitatively with the experimental data of Escherichia coli, suggesting an autocorrelation function of the active force proportional to the cube of the particle radius. We demonstrate that such a white-noise active force is equivalent to an active force of about 0.57 pN with random orientation. Our work unveils an emergent simplicity of random processes inside living cells.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.5.L032018 |
| spellingShingle | Lingyu Meng Yiteng Jin Yichao Guan Jiayi Xu Jie Lin Diffusion enhancement in bacterial cytoplasm through an active random force Physical Review Research |
| title | Diffusion enhancement in bacterial cytoplasm through an active random force |
| title_full | Diffusion enhancement in bacterial cytoplasm through an active random force |
| title_fullStr | Diffusion enhancement in bacterial cytoplasm through an active random force |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diffusion enhancement in bacterial cytoplasm through an active random force |
| title_short | Diffusion enhancement in bacterial cytoplasm through an active random force |
| title_sort | diffusion enhancement in bacterial cytoplasm through an active random force |
| url | http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.5.L032018 |
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