Balancing information and dissipation with partially observed fluctuating signals

2025/12/04 by Nicoletti, Giorgio, Di Terlizzi, Ivan, Busiello, Daniel Maria
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Gene Regulatory Network Analysis #Mechanical and Optical Resonators #Molecular Communication and Nanonetworks #Statistical Mechanics (cond-mat.stat-mech)

paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2512.04877

openalex publication_date 2025/12/04 · openalex created_date 2025/12/06 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

Biological systems sense and extract information from fluctuating signals while operating under energetic constraints and limited resolution. We introduce a general chemical model in which a sensor, coupled to a signaling pathway activated by hidden signals, can allosterically tune the production of a readout molecule. We propose viable strategies for the sensor to estimate, and eventually balance, information gathering on the hidden process and the associated dissipative cost relying solely on counting statistics of observed trajectories. We show that these strategies can be successfully implemented to adapt the readout production even with finite-time measurements and limited dynamic resolution, and remain effective in the presence of inhibitory regulatory mechanisms. Our study provides a plausible mechanism to actively balance information and dissipation, paving the way for an implementable design principle underpinning biological and biochemical adaptation.

Citations

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• Dynamical information synergy in biochemical signaling networks
• Fundamental Limits to Cellular Sensing