Increased accuracy of ligand sensing by receptor internalization.
Many types of cells can sense external ligand concentrations with cell-surface receptors at extremely high accuracy. Interestingly, ligand-bound receptors are often internalized, a process also known as receptor-mediated endocytosis. While internalization is involved in a vast number of important functions for the life of a cell, it was recently also suggested to increase the accuracy of sensing ligand as the overcounting of the same ligand molecules is reduced. Here we show, by extending simple ligand-receptor models to out-of-equilibrium thermodynamics, that internalization increases the accuracy with which cells can measure ligand concentrations in the external environment. Comparison with experimental rates of real receptors demonstrates that our model has indeed biological significance.
Aquino
Gerardo
G
Division of Molecular Biosciences and Centre for Integrated Systems Biology at Imperial College, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ London, United Kingdom.
Endres
Robert G
RG
D000042:Absorption; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004058:Diffusion; D004705:Endocytosis; D007700:Kinetics; D008024:Ligands; D008954:Models, Biological; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*
D008024:Ligands; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface