Abstract
Actin is a cytoskeletal protein which forms dense, highly interconnected networks within eukaryotic cells. A growing body of evidence suggests that actin-mediated intra- and extracellular signalling is instrumental in facilitating organism-level emergent behaviour patterns which, crucially, may be characterised as natural expressions of computation. We use excitable cellular automata modelling to simulate signal transmission through cell arrays whose topology was extracted from images of Watershed transformation-derived actin network reconstructions; the actin networks sampled were from laboratory experimental observations of a model organism, slime mould Physarum polycephalum. Our results indicate that actin networks support directional transmission of generalised energetic phenomena, the amplification and trans-network speed of which of which is proportional to network density (whose primary determinant is the anatomical location of the network sampled). Furthermore, this model also suggests the ability of such networks for supporting signal-signal interactions which may be characterised as Boolean logical operations, thus indicating that a cell’s actin network may function as a nanoscale data transmission and processing network. We conclude by discussing the role of the cytoskeleton in facilitating intracellular computing, how computation can be implemented in such a network and practical considerations for designing ‘useful’ actin circuitry.
Highlights
The cytoskeleton is a ubiquitous organelle in eukaryotic cells that comprises a scaffold of proteins whose topology dynamically rearranges as the cell migrates or deforms under mechanical pressure
We use excitable cellular automata modelling to simulate signal transmission through cell arrays whose topology was extracted from images of Watershed transformation-derived actin network reconstructions; the actin networks sampled were from laboratory experimental observations of a model organism, slime mould Physarum polycephalum
Our results indicate that actin networks support directional transmission of generalised energetic phenomena, the amplification and transnetwork speed of which of which is proportional to network density
Summary
The cytoskeleton is a ubiquitous organelle in eukaryotic cells that comprises a scaffold of proteins whose topology dynamically rearranges as the cell migrates or deforms under mechanical pressure. Adamatkzy signalling molecules and quantum events such as solitons (Carpenter 2000; Craddock et al 2012; Davydov 1977; Forgacs et al 2004; Maniotis et al 1997; Schmidt and Hall 1998; Tuszynski et al 2004; Mayne and Adamatzky 2015) It has been suggested by several authors that many of the emergent properties displayed by organisms (e.g. synergistic cooperation between cells in complex organ systems such as the brain) arise at the sub-cellular level from nonlinear interactions of the myriad signalling processes mediated by the cytoskeleton. If this is the case, by extension any research furthering our knowledge of cytoskeleton-mediated processes will enhance our understanding of poorly-characterised phenomena such as brain function and precipitate a new wave of technologies and medical therapies (Hameroff 1987; Priel et al 2010)
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