Non-Reciprocal Molecular Interactions May Help Stabilize Biological Systems

markrenngont

A new theoretical model developed by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS) highlights the critical role of asymmetric, or non-reciprocal, interactions in maintaining stability and order within biological systems. The findings, published in Physical Review Letters, provide insights into how living structures emerge and persist through simple but directional molecular interactions.

The team from the Department of Living Matter Physics at MPI-DS seeks to uncover the physical principles that underlie the organization of life, from basic particles and molecules to fully functioning organisms. Just as human institutions rely on structured roles and spatial organization for efficiency, cells operate through the coordinated activity of their components, each responsible for distinct functions.

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To explore how this cellular order arises, the researchers developed models focused on the minimal conditions needed for structured, self-organizing behavior. In passive systems, where molecular interactions are balanced and mutual, particles often form stable arrangements purely through random motion. But when the team introduced non-reciprocal interactions—where one particle is attracted to another that simultaneously repels it—the system’s behavior changed dramatically.

“Adding non-reciprocity creates activity within the system that can mix or organize the particles in new ways,” explained Laya Parkavousi, lead author of the study. This built-in imbalance allows researchers to influence how particles assemble, providing a form of control over the system’s organization.

Co-author Navdeep Rana added that by adjusting the degree of non-reciprocity, the model can replicate various states found in biological environments. These include membrane-less molecular condensates, which play roles in processes such as gene regulation, or waves of chemical signals that travel through cells as part of communication networks.

The research suggests that non-reciprocal interactions may offer a foundational mechanism for the emergence of complex, functional structures in biology. By introducing directional forces at the molecular level, systems can adapt, reorganize, and sustain essential functions without needing complex external regulation.

Ultimately, this work opens new avenues for understanding the self-organizing properties of living matter and how cellular processes might be regulated through fundamental physical interactions.