Work

Motor shot noise explains active fluctuations in a single cilium

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Mesoscopic fluctuations reveal stochastic dynamics of molecules in both inanimate and living matter. We investigate how small-number fluctuations shape the collective dynamics of molecular motors using motile cilia as model system. We theoretically show that fluctuations in the number of bound motors are sufficient to explain experimentally observed fluctuations in the cilia beat, including a quality factor $Q$ that measures oscillation precision and phase defects of intra-cilium synchronization. Our findings constrain theories of motor control and establish a link between microscopic motor noise and mesoscopic non-equilibrium dynamics.

Source: Physical Review Research

DOI: 10.1103/dlsn-4v7r

Authors: Maximilian Kotz, Veikko F. Geyer, Benjamin M. Friedrich

Language: English

Topic: stochastic dynamics and bifurcation

Subfield: Statistical and Nonlinear Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,625

OpenAlex ID: W4417296695

FWCI: 3.4

Cites: 2

Cited by: 2

Related to: 10