English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Local changes in pH are known to significantly alter the state and activityof proteins and in particular enzymes. pH variations induced by pulsespropagating along soft interfaces (e.g. the lipid bilayer) would thereforeconstitute an important pillar towards a new physical mechanism of biochemicalregulation and biological signaling. Here we investigate the pH-inducedphysical perturbation of a lipid interface and the physiochemical nature of thesubsequent acoustic propagation. Pulses are stimulated by local acidificationof a lipid monolayer and propagate, in analogy to sound, at velocitiescontrolled by the two-dimensional compressibility of the interface. Withtransient local pH changes of 0.6 units directly observed at the interface andvelocities up to 1.4 m/s this represents hitherto the fastest protoniccommunication observed. Furthermore simultaneously propagating mechanical andelectrical changes in the lipid interface up to 8 mN/m and 100 mV are detected,exposing the thermodynamic nature of these pulses. Finally, these pulses areexcitable only beyond a threshold for protonation, determined by the pKa of thelipid head groups. When combined with an enzymatic pH-optimum, the proposedcommunication can be very specific, thus providing a new physical basis forintra- and intercellular signaling via two-dimensional sound waves atinterfaces.

Protons at the speed of sound: Specific biological signaling from physics