Control of interaction strength in a network of the true slime mold by a microfabricated structure

Citation
A. Takamatsu et al., Control of interaction strength in a network of the true slime mold by a microfabricated structure, BIOSYSTEMS, 55(1-3), 2000, pp. 33-38
Citations number
10
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Experimental Biology
Journal title
BIOSYSTEMS
ISSN journal
0303-2647 → ACNP
Volume
55
Issue
1-3
Year of publication
2000
Pages
33 - 38
Database
ISI
SICI code
0303-2647(200002)55:1-3<33:COISIA>2.0.ZU;2-N
Abstract
The plasmodium of the true slime mold, Physarum polycephalum, which shows v arious nonlinear oscillatory phenomena, for example, in its thickness, prot oplasmic streaming and concentration of intracellular chemicals, can be reg arded as a collective of nonlinear oscillators. The plasmodial oscillators are interconnected by microscale tubes whose dimensions can be closely rela ted to the strength of interaction between the oscillators. Investigation o f the collective behavior of the oscillators under the conditions in which the interaction strength can be systematically controlled gives significant information on the characteristics of the system. In this study, we propos ed a living model system of a coupled oscillator system in the Physarum pla smodium. We patterned the geometry and dimensions of the microscale tube st ructure in the plasmodium by a microfabricated structure (microstructure). As the first step, we constructed a two-oscillator system for the plasmodiu m that has two wells (oscillator part) and a channel (coupling part). We in vestigated the oscillation behavior by monitoring the thickness oscillation of the plasmodium in the microstructure with various channel widths. It wa s found that the oscillation behavior of two oscillators dynamically change d depending on the channel width. Based on the results of measurements of t he tube dimensions and the velocity of the protoplasmic streaming in the tu be, we discuss how the channel width relates to the interaction strength of the coupled oscillator system. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.