Regensburg 2019 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 29: PhD Focus session: Theory of stochastic processes with applications in biology (joint session SOE/BP/DY/AKjDPG)

BP 29.4: Invited Talk

Thursday, April 4, 2019, 16:15–16:45, H17

Topological Hindrance and Jamming Transitions in Multi-Species Transport — •Patrick Wilke, Emanuel Reithmann, and Erwin Frey — Arnold-Sommerfeld-Center for Theoretical Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany

Motivated by recent experimental studies that have addressed the stepping behavior of kinesins, we investigate a lattice gas model for simultaneous transport of two species of active particles on a microtubule. The species are distinguished by their different gaits: While the first species moves straight ahead, the second follows a helical path. We show that the collective properties of such systems critically differ from those of one-species transport as described by generalised totally asymmetric exclusion processes. This is most evident in a jamming transition far below full occupation, as well as in nonequilibrium pattern formation. The altered behavior arises because - unlike the case in single-species transport - any given position may be targeted by two particles from different directions at the same time. However, a particle can leave a given position only in one direction. This simple change in connectivity significantly amplifies the impact of steric interactions and thus becomes a key determinant of mixed species transport. We computationally characterize this type of hindrance and develop a comprehensive stochastic theory for collective two-species transport along a cylinder. Our observations show high robustness against model extensions that account for additional biomolecular features which suggests relevance also in a biological context.