Protein logic digitizes cells

http://www.trnmag.com/Roundup/2005/TRN_Research_News_Roundup_9-26-05.html


Protein logic digitizes cells

Brain researchers often use the analogy of brain as computer to frame
their work. As it turns out, the analogy is also handy for examining the
complex biochemical interactions inside individual cells.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge in England have developed a
mathematical model of the biochemical interactions of protein molecules
within cells that shows that proteins are capable of carrying out the
basic binary logic functions of computing. They also showed that this type
of binary logic appears to be at work in E. coli. bacteria.

The logic is carried out by the actions of small molecules that bind to
the larger protein molecules and change the shapes of the proteins, which
switches them between active and inactive states. The protein binding
process can implement AND, OR and XOR logic gates.

The work isn't likely to lead to computers made from bacteria anytime
soon, but it does present a new perspective for understanding the complex
biochemical network of life, which in turn could lead to better
understanding and treatment of diseases.

(The Logical Repertoire of Ligand-Binding Proteins, Physical Biology,
September 2005)