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The MeshCODE to scale – Visualising synaptic binary information

Barnett, SFH, Goult, Benjamin T (2022) The MeshCODE to scale – Visualising synaptic binary information. BioRxiv, . (doi:10.1101/2022.06.16.496395) (KAR id:95486)

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DOI for this version: 10.1101/2022.06.16.496395

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https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.06.16.496395

Abstract

The Mercator projection map of the world provides a useful, but distorted, view of the relative scale of countries. Current cellular models suffer from a similar distortion. Here, we undertook an in-depth structural analysis of the molecular dimensions in the cells computational machinery, the MeshCODE, that is assembled from a meshwork of binary switches in the scaffolding proteins talin and vinculin. Talin contains a series of force-dependent binary switches and each domain switching state introduces quantised step-changes in talin length on a micrometre scale. The average dendritic spine is 1 μm in diameter so this analysis identifies a plausible Gearbox-like mechanism for dynamic regulation of synaptic function, whereby the positioning of enzymes and substrates relative to each other, mechanically-encoded by the MeshCODE switch patterns, might control synaptic transmission. Based on biophysical rules and experimentally derived distances, this analysis yields a novel perspective on biological digital information.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1101/2022.06.16.496395
Uncontrolled keywords: integrin, talin, vinculin, cytoskeleton, actin, MeshCODE, dendritic spine, memory, synapse, gearbox
Subjects: Q Science > QH Natural history > QH581.2 Cell Biology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
Depositing User: Ben Goult
Date Deposited: 17 Jun 2022 21:02 UTC
Last Modified: 20 Jun 2022 08:52 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/95486 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)
Goult, Benjamin T: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3438-2807
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