Adapt to oscillate: a nonequilibrium thermodynamic view of dynamic quorum sensing

Cell-density-dependent rhythmic behavior, or dynamic quorum sensing, has been suggested to coordinate population level activities such as cell migration and embryonic development. Quantitative description of the oscillatory phenomenon is hitherto hampered by incomplete knowledge of the underlying intracellular processes, especially when isolated cells appear to be quiescent. Here we present a nonequilibrium thermodynamic scenario where adaptive sensing drives the oscillation of a dissipative signaling field through stimulated energy release. We prove, on general grounds, that adaptation implies phase reversal of the linear response function in a certain frequency domain, in violation of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem (FDT) under restricted coupling between a cell and the signal[1]. Consequently, at sufficiently strong coupling, an oscillating signal in a suitable frequency range becomes self-sustained due to the energy outflow from adaptive cells. We find this overarching principle to be at work in several natural and synthetic oscillatory systems, and it may help to guide the design of further experiments on glycolytic oscillation in yeast suspensions[2].

[1] Shou-Wen Wang and Lei-Han Tang, arXiv:1611.04089.
[2] Shou-Wen Wang and Lei-Han Tang, submitted.