Trans-scale thermal signaling in biological systems

Abstract

Summary Biochemical reactions in cells serve as the endogenous source of heat, maintaining a constant body temperature. This process requires proper control; otherwise, serious consequences can arise due to the unwanted but unavoidable responses of biological systems to heat. This review aims to present a range of responses to heat in biological systems across various spatial scales. We begin by examining the impaired thermogenesis of malignant hyperthermia in model mice and skeletal muscle cells, demonstrating that the progression of this disease is caused by a positive feedback loop between thermally driven Ca2+ signaling and thermogenesis at the subcellular scale. After we explore thermally driven force generation in both muscle and non-muscle cells, we illustrate how in vitro assays using purified proteins can reveal the heat-responsive properties of proteins and protein assemblies. Building upon these experimental findings, we propose the concept of "trans-scale thermal signaling".

Physicochemical Perspective of Biological Heterogeneity

“…It was found that temperature fluctuations can be observed even within single cells. 26 This process has led to the concept of "thermal signaling," which is the process by which heat is released through intracellular biochemical reactions and influences cellular functions across different spatial scales, from molecules to individual organisms. 26 It involves releasing heat through various biological processes and biomolecules, such as ATP/ GTP hydrolysis and biopolymer complex formation and disassembly.…”

“…Also, lower local energy fluctuation can affect cellular function, as energy is exchanged with biomolecules in many intracellular reactions. It was found that temperature fluctuations can be observed even within single cells . This process has led to the concept of “thermal signaling,” which is the process by which heat is released through intracellular biochemical reactions and influences cellular functions across different spatial scales, from molecules to individual organisms .…”

Hybrid Biophysics: Interdisciplinary approaches for trans-scale analysis of organism-environment interactions

“…The information from the sensors is transmitted into the cell via various types of signaling modes, such as Ca 2+ and phosphorylation. Heat itself can also be a signaling, i.e., the thermal signaling [1][2][3]. Cellular responses are transduced and coordinated at the organismal level to determine behavior.…”