Nonequilibrium statistical-mechanical study of molecular machines with autonomous information processing

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25800217
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Mathematical physics/Fundamental condensed matter physics
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Sagawa Takahiro 東京大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (60610805)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: ゆらぎの定理 / 情報熱力学 / シグナル伝達

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The investigation of autonomous molecular machines attracts much interest not only in terms of nonequilibrium statistical mechanics but also quantitative biology. In this study, I focus on the role of autonomous information processing in molecular machines, and constructed a general thermodynamic theory of autonomous information processing. I have derived a generalized fluctuation theorem including information flow, which leads to the second law of thermodynamics with autonomous information processing. This has revealed the fundamental role of information flow in nonequilibrium statistical mechanics. Furthermore, I have applied the general theory to biochemical signal transduction, and found the relationship between information flow and robustness of adaptation of bacterial chemotaxis.

Free Research Field

統計力学