John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
Manu Prakash, an associate professor of bioengineering at Stanford University, recently shared his fascination with the single-cell organism Lacrymaria olor, describing it as "mesmerizing." This sentiment is echoed by Eliott Flaum, a graduate student in Prakash's lab, who has been studying the organism for seven years. Their research has culminated in a paper published in Science.
The video presented by Prakash showcases L. olor’s remarkable behavior: a teardrop-shaped cell extends and retracts a long neck-like projection within seconds. This phenomenon equates to a human extending their head over 200 feet. Despite lacking a nervous system, L. olor exhibits this complex behavior repeatedly.
L. olor's unique morphodynamics have led to its feature on the cover of Science magazine. Prakash and Flaum discovered that the cell’s ability to extend and retract is due to its cytoskeletal structure, likened to origami folds encoded within its microtubules. This geometric mechanism allows the cell to fold and unfold seamlessly.
"This is the first example of cellular origami," Prakash stated, suggesting the term "lacrygami" for this phenomenon. The researchers detailed instructions for replicating lacrygami using paper and tape in their publication.
Utilizing transmission electron microscopy, they identified 15 helical microtubule ribbons forming L. olor’s cytoskeleton. These tubules coil and uncoil like a compressed accordion, allowing for extensive material storage within the cell.
"The elegance is in the arithmetic," said Prakash, noting that L. olor performs this folding process flawlessly about 50,000 times in its lifetime due to its precise geometric structure.
Prakash demonstrated this concept with a piece of paper folded into a cone shape, explaining how singularities (d-cones) control the folding and unfolding process.
Prakash describes his approach as "recreational biology," driven by curiosity and wonder. He envisions practical applications such as deployable microscale living machines for space telescopes or surgical robots.
This research was supported by several institutions including the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.
For more information on this study or related topics, contact Chloe Dionisio at chloedio@stanford.edu.
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