With scientists still working on decoding the secrets of life, some of them have made a breakthrough, discovering that asymmetric interactions between molecules may serve as a stabilizing factor for biological systems.
Indeed, researchers in the Department of Living Matter Physics at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS) have developed a new model that reveals the regulatory role of non-reciprocity, according to a report by Phys.org published on April 22.
To put it more simply, they explored how molecules that interact unequally or asymmetrically impact the formation of life and maintenance of complex biological structures, as well as their role in the emergence of order in living systems.
Why asymmetric molecular interactions can lead to stability
As it happens, things in many areas of life – companies, societies, even ecosystems – run more smoothly when everyone does their part, and a similar principle generally applies inside cells, where different molecules and structures have specific roles.
But the scientists wanted to know how these intricate arrangements form to begin with. According to Laya Parkavousi, the first author of the study, in traditional ‘passive’ systems, where molecules interact equally with each other, patterns arise due to random movement and balance:
“However, if we add non-reciprocal interactions to the system, meaning that one particle is attracted by another, which in turn is repelled, we observe activity that can homogenize the mixture.”
In other words, the system becomes more adaptable, allowing us to control the state of the particle organization.
A new lens for understanding living matter
As Navdeep Rana, shared first author of the study explained, this enabled researchers to recreate important biological features, such as molecular condensate – dense clusters inside cells not enclosed by membranes – and information waves that help cells communicate:
“By tuning the non-reciprocity, we enable the system to adapt to different states. (…) These states can be so-called molecular condensates within a cell that are not separated by a membrane or also waves of traveling information that is used in cellular signaling pathways.”
This way, the study highlights how breaking the rules of equal interaction, such as evident in the asymmetric molecular interaction might actually be what gives living systems their structure, stability, and spark.
Elsewhere, scientists continue to make new breakthroughs, including in the quantum field, where they have recently developed an innovative quantum-based navigation software called ‘Ironstone Opal,’ which is 50 times more precise than traditional GPS.
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