Messenger size optimality in cellular communications.

Abstract

Living cells presumably employ optimized information transfer methods, enabling efficient communication even in noisy environments. The efficiency of chemical communication between cells depends on the properties of the molecular messenger. Evidence suggests that proteins within narrow molecular mass ranges have been naturally selected to mediate cellular communication, yet the underlying communication design principles remain poorly understood. Using a simple physical model that accounts for the cost of chemical synthesis, diffusion, molecular binding, and degradation, we show that optimal masses exist to ensure efficient communication of various types of signals. Our findings provide insights into the design principles of biological communication and may inform the engineering of biomimetic systems with chemical signaling capabilities.