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Signal Transduction and Communication Through Model Membranes in Networks of Coupled Chemical Oscillators

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Artificial Life and Evolutionary Computation (WIVACE 2017)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 830))

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Abstract

In nature, an important example of chemical communication and synchronicity can be found in cell populations where long-range chemical communication takes place over micrometer distance. In vitro laboratory systems can be useful to understand and control such complex biological mechanisms and, in a biomimetic approach, we present in this paper a model based on three basic features, namely (i) the compartmentalization of chemical information (using microfluidics), (ii) a stable emitter of periodic chemical signals inside compartments (Belousov-Zhabotinsky oscillating reaction) and (iii) a suitable spatio-temporal monitoring of the emitted chemical signal. In particular, starting from our recent work on the communication among oscillators via chemical intermediates in networks of lipid-stabilised droplets, we discuss here the role of compartments and of the geometry of the system. We present 3 different experimental configurations, namely liposomes (water-in-water dispersions), double emulsions (water-in-oil-in-water dispersions) and simple emulsions (water-in-oil dispersions) and we show that the global behaviour of networks can be influenced and controlled by several experimental parameters, like the nature of the collecting solvent, the presence of dopants and the network geometry. Numerical models supporting and explaining the experimental findings are also discussed.

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Acknowledgments

F.R. gratefully acknowledge the University of Salerno for the grants ORSA158121 and ORSA167988. F.R. and A.A-H. acknowledge the support through the COST Action CM1304 (Emergence and Evolution of Complex Chemical Systems).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Biology “A. Zambelli”, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, SA, Italy

    Federico Rossi

  2. Sorbonne Université, CNRS, PHysico-chimie des Electrolytes et Nanosystèmes InterfaciauX, PHENIX, F-75005, Paris, France

    Kristian Torbensen & Ali Abou-Hassan

  3. Department of Chemistry and CSGI, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    Sandra Ristori

Authors
  1. Federico Rossi
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  2. Kristian Torbensen
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  3. Sandra Ristori
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  4. Ali Abou-Hassan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Federico Rossi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Venice, Italy

    Marcello Pelillo

  2. Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Venice, Italy

    Irene Poli

  3. University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy

    Andrea Roli

  4. University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy

    Roberto Serra

  5. Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Venice, Italy

    Debora Slanzi

  6. University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy

    Marco Villani

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Rossi, F., Torbensen, K., Ristori, S., Abou-Hassan, A. (2018). Signal Transduction and Communication Through Model Membranes in Networks of Coupled Chemical Oscillators. In: Pelillo, M., Poli, I., Roli, A., Serra, R., Slanzi, D., Villani, M. (eds) Artificial Life and Evolutionary Computation. WIVACE 2017. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 830. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78658-2_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78658-2_2

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