Cellular automata modelling of slime mould actin network signalling

Abstract

Actin is a cytoskeletal protein which forms dense, highly interconnected networks within eukaryotic cells. A growing body of evidence suggests that actinmediated 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 transnetwork 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.

On resistance switching and oscillations in tubulin microtubule droplets

“…The framework of the sub-cellular computation was further supported by Priel, Tuszynski and Cantiello in their studies of information processing in actin-tubulin networks of neuron dendrites [45]. The pathways towards development of cytoskeleton based computing devices [4,40,38] have been so far mainly based on theoretical studies and computer modelling. This might be explained by the fact that experimentally-wise it might be difficult to address individual units of tubulin polymers to write and read information arbitrarily.…”

Router design for nano‐communication using actin quantum cellular automata

“…AQCA concept is also applicable for designing the concept of droplet machine and voltage circuit [26, 27]. The Boolean logic function can be developed by the intracellular connectivity characteristics of AQCA [28]. Actin filament can be used as an actin network that has two or three states [29].…”

East-West paths to unconventional computing

“…Our results, in Refs. [113,114], demonstrated that P. polycephalum arranges its actin in dense networks in its pseudopodia (growth cones), whereas actin network topology is more diminutive in caudal regions. This is perhaps to be expected in a tip-growing organism, but we were interested to note that the varying interconnectedness of stress fibre networks approximated proximity graph structures.…”