Living System Adapts Harmonics of Peristaltic Wave for Cost-Efficient Optimization of Pumping Performance

Bäuerle, Felix; Karpitschka, Stefan; Alim, Karen

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.124.098102

Cited by 16 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…This oscillatory flow is driven by relaxation–contraction oscillations that organize as a wave [32]. For efficient transport, phase and frequency relationships along a single vein need to be intricately maintained [149,150], indicating that precise control of the spatio-temporal oscillation pattern is required in the slime mould as well.…”

Section: From Oscillations To Learningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptive behaviour and learning in slime moulds: the role of oscillations

Boussard

Fessel

Oettmeier

et al. 2021

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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The slime mould Physarum polycephalum , an aneural organism, uses information from previous experiences to adjust its behaviour, but the mechanisms by which this is accomplished remain unknown. This article examines the possible role of oscillations in learning and memory in slime moulds. Slime moulds share surprising similarities with the network of synaptic connections in animal brains. First, their topology derives from a network of interconnected, vein-like tubes in which signalling molecules are transported. Second, network motility, which generates slime mould behaviour, is driven by distinct oscillations that organize into spatio-temporal wave patterns. Likewise, neural activity in the brain is organized in a variety of oscillations characterized by different frequencies. Interestingly, the oscillating networks of slime moulds are not precursors of nervous systems but, rather, an alternative architecture. Here, we argue that comparable information-processing operations can be realized on different architectures sharing similar oscillatory properties. After describing learning abilities and oscillatory activities of P. polycephalum , we explore the relation between network oscillations and learning, and evaluate the organism's global architecture with respect to information-processing potential. We hypothesize that, as in the brain, modulation of spontaneous oscillations may sustain learning in slime mould. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Basal cognition: conceptual tools and the view from the single cell’.

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Section: From Oscillations To Learningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptive behaviour and learning in slime moulds: the role of oscillations

Boussard

Fessel

Oettmeier

et al. 2021

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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show abstract

“…The contractions drive cytoplasmic flows throughout the organism’s network ( Iima and Nakagaki, 2012 ; Alim et al, 2013 ), transporting nutrients and signalling molecules ( Alim et al, 2017 ). Cytoplasmic flow is responsible for mass transport across the organism and thereby contractions directly control locomotion behaviour ( Rieu et al, 2015 ; Lewis et al, 2015 ; Zhang et al, 2017 ; Bäuerle et al, 2020 ; Rodiek et al, 2015 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emergence of behaviour in a self-organized living matter network

Fleig

Kramar

Wilczek

et al. 2022

eLife

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What is the origin of behaviour? Although typically associated with a nervous system, simple organisms also show complex behaviours. Among them, the slime mold Physarum polycephalum, a giant single cell, is ideally suited to study emergence of behaviour. Here, we show how locomotion and morphological adaptation behaviour emerge from self-organized patterns of rhythmic contractions of the actomyosin lining of the tubes making up the network-shaped organism. We quantify the spatio-temporal contraction dynamics by decomposing experimentally recorded contraction patterns into spatial contraction modes. Notably, we find a continuous spectrum of modes, as opposed to a few dominant modes. Our data suggests that the continuous spectrum of modes allows for dynamic transitions between a plethora of specific behaviours with transitions marked by highly irregular contraction states. By mapping specific behaviours to states of active contractions, we provide the basis to understand behaviour’s complexity as a function of biomechanical dynamics.

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“…The morphologically complex Physarum plasmodium can grow meters in area, exhibit diverse phenotypic behaviors, and dynamically respond to environmental conditions that it encounters ( Dussutour et al, 2010 ). Striking examples of the diverse behavioral repertoire of this single-celled organism include that Physarum can solve the fastest way through a maze ( Nakagaki et al, 2000a ), anticipates periodic stimuli ( Saigusa et al, 2008 ), or optimizes the cytoplasmic flow to more quickly escape unfavorable conditions ( Bäuerle et al, 2020 ). Furthermore, the plasmodium’s network-like body plan consists of interlaced tubes of varying diameters, and it was recently shown that these tubes grow and shrink in diameter in response to a nutrient source, thereby functioning to imprint the nutrient’s location in the tube diameter hierarchy ( Kramar and Alim, 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial transcriptomic and single-nucleus analysis reveals heterogeneity in a gigantic single-celled syncytium

Gerber

Loureiro

Schramma

et al. 2022

eLife

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In multicellular organisms, the specification, coordination, and compartmentalization of cell types enable the formation of complex body plans. However, some eukaryotic protists such as slime molds generate diverse and complex structures while remaining in a multinucleate syncytial state. It is unknown if different regions of these giant syncytial cells have distinct transcriptional responses to environmental encounters and if nuclei within the cell diversify into heterogeneous states. Here, we performed spatial transcriptome analysis of the slime mold Physarum polycephalum in the plasmodium state under different environmental conditions and used single-nucleus RNA-sequencing to dissect gene expression heterogeneity among nuclei. Our data identifies transcriptome regionality in the organism that associates with proliferation, syncytial substructures, and localized environmental conditions. Further, we find that nuclei are heterogenous in their transcriptional profile and may process local signals within the plasmodium to coordinate cell growth, metabolism, and reproduction. To understand how nuclei variation within the syncytium compares to heterogeneity in single-nucleus cells, we analyzed states in single Physarum amoebal cells. We observed amoebal cell states at different stages of mitosis and meiosis, and identified cytokinetic features that are specific to nuclei divisions within the syncytium. Notably, we do not find evidence for predefined transcriptomic states in the amoebae that are observed in the syncytium. Our data shows that a single-celled slime mold can control its gene expression in a region-specific manner while lacking cellular compartmentalization and suggests that nuclei are mobile processors facilitating local specialized functions. More broadly, slime molds offer the extraordinary opportunity to explore how organisms can evolve regulatory mechanisms to divide labor, specialize, balance competition with cooperation, and perform other foundational principles that govern the logic of life.

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Living System Adapts Harmonics of Peristaltic Wave for Cost-Efficient Optimization of Pumping Performance

Cited by 16 publications

References 42 publications

Adaptive behaviour and learning in slime moulds: the role of oscillations

Adaptive behaviour and learning in slime moulds: the role of oscillations

Emergence of behaviour in a self-organized living matter network

Spatial transcriptomic and single-nucleus analysis reveals heterogeneity in a gigantic single-celled syncytium

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