Thermodynamic probes of life
A thermodynamic constraint applicable to nonequilibrium, stationary fluctuations is reported and applied to determining the heat dissipated by living cells at the nanoscale, which reveals nonuniform heat dissipation along the equatorial cell contour of red blood cells.
Abstract
Nonequilibrium fluctuations reveal nonuniform heat dissipation in living cells The biological activity of a living cell is reflected in the dissipation of heat to its surroundings. However, quantifying heat and cellular activity at the nanoscale has been a challenge (1). The recent development of stochastic thermodynamics (2) has brought access to measuring the energetics and efficiency of microscopic systems, such as cells, through a combination of stochastic theory and high-resolution experimental techniques. On page 971 of this issue, Di Terlizzi et al. (3) report a thermodynamic constraint applicable to nonequilibrium, stationary fluctuations and apply it to determining the heat dissipated by living cells at the nanoscale. Their analysis reveals nonuniform heat dissipation along the equatorial cell contour of red blood cells. The approach may lead to more accurate measurements and a deeper understanding of energy efficiency in living matter, from single cells to whole organisms.