Premium
Mechanosensation Mediates Long‐Range Spatial Decision‐Making in an Aneural Organism
Author(s) -
Murugan Nirosha J.,
Kaltman Daniel H.,
Jin Paul H.,
Chien Melanie,
Martinez Ramses,
Nguyen Cuong Q.,
Kane Anna,
Novak Richard,
Ingber Donald E.,
Levin Michael
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.202008161
Subject(s) - physarum polycephalum , physarum , mechanosensation , substrate (aquarium) , biological system , organism , materials science , model organism , lamella (surface anatomy) , nanotechnology , biology , biophysics , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , paleontology , biochemistry , receptor , ion channel , composite material , gene
The unicellular protist Physarum polycephalum is an important emerging model for understanding how aneural organisms process information toward adaptive behavior. Here, it is revealed that Physarum can use mechanosensation to reliably make decisions about distant objects in its environment, preferentially growing in the direction of heavier, substrate‐deforming, but chemically inert masses. This long‐range sensing is abolished by gentle rhythmic mechanical disruption, changing substrate stiffness, or the addition of an inhibitor of mechanosensitive transient receptor potential channels. Additionally, it is demonstrated that Physarum does not respond to the absolute magnitude of strain. Computational modeling reveales that Physarum may perform this calculation by sensing the fraction of its perimeter that is distorted above a threshold substrate strain—a fundamentally novel method of mechanosensation. Using its body as both a distributed sensor array and computational substrate, this aneural organism leverages its unique morphology to make long‐range decisions. Together, these data identify a surprising behavioral preference relying on biomechanical features and quantitatively characterize how the Physarum exploits physics to adaptively regulate its growth and shape.