1 research outputs found
A solution to the subdiffusion-efficiency paradox: Inactive states enhance reaction efficiency at subdiffusion conditions in living cells
Macromolecular crowding in living biological cells effects subdiffusion of
larger biomolecules such as proteins and enzymes. Mimicking this subdiffusion
in terms of random walks on a critical percolation cluster, we here present a
case study of EcoRV restriction enzymes involved in vital cellular defence. We
show that due to its so far elusive propensity to an inactive state the enzyme
avoids non-specific binding and remains well-distributed in the bulk cytoplasm
of the cell. Despite the reduced volume exploration capability of subdiffusion
processes, this mechanism guarantees a high efficiency of the enzyme. By
variation of the non-specific binding constant and the bond occupation
probability on the percolation network, we demonstrate that reduced
non-specific binding are beneficial for efficient subdiffusive enzyme activity
even in relatively small bacteria cells. Our results corroborate a more local
picture of cellular regulation.Comment: 6 plus epsilon pages, 6 figure