SKM 2023 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 28: Poster Session II
BP 28.42: Poster
Thursday, March 30, 2023, 18:00–20:00, P2/EG
Mechanically induced Bioluminescence - from single cells to glowing sea — •Nico Schramma1, Hugo França1,2, and Maziyar Jalaal1 — 1Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands — 2Instituto de Ciências Matemáticas e Computação, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil
The ability of single-celled organisms to sense mechanical cues is of high importance for their migration, navigation and survival in their ever-changing environment. However, studying single-cell mechano-sensing under dynamic mechanical conditions is complicated. For this reason, the bioluminescent marine algae Pyrocystis lunula is a particularly interesting organism: mechanical stimuli trigger them to release a flash of blue light, which is mostly known from the bioluminescent tide, turning the sea into a mysterious pale blue shimmering. Combining mechanical tests on single cells with dynamics of millions of bioluminescent algae in a wave impact experiment and computational fluid mechanics we find and test general relations describing macroscopic (fluid)mechanical cues with bioluminescence. Our research paves the way towards a better understanding of mechanosensation of algae and plants, but may also lead to applications of bioluminescent organisms as ``living force sensors''.