Researchers at Stanford University have recently shed light on a remarkable phenomenon observed in a unicellular organism,
Lacrymaria olor. This protist, capable of extending its neck up to thirty times the length of its body, has long intrigued scientists. The work of Manu Prakash and Eliott Flaum has finally revealed the mechanism behind this exceptional capability.
Lacrymaria olor is known for its rapid and spectacular transformations. This teardrop-shaped organism can project a long, thin structure resembling a neck from the lower end of its cell. This neck can reach up to 1500 microns (0.059 inches). Translating this capability to a human, it would be equivalent to projecting one's head 60 meters (197 feet) for a 1.8-meter-tall (5.9 feet) man, roughly 30 times his total height.
The researchers discovered that this rapid and precise extension is due to a helical cytoskeletal structure, composed of approximately 15 microtubules. These microtubules are wound around the cell membrane and are covered by a delicate translucent membrane that folds into complex origami-like patterns. This configuration allows the cell to efficiently deploy and retract its neck.
Using live imaging, confocal microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy, Manu Prakash and Eliott Flaum were able to observe these mechanisms in detail. They found that the microtubules function like helical ribs, wrapped in a membrane that defines the folds, creating ridges and valleys similar to traditional origami folds. This structure allows
Lacrymaria olor to extend and retract its neck repeatedly, up to 50,000 times, without fail.
Manu Prakash describes this phenomenon as "incredibly complex behavior" and compares it to cellular origami, which he suggests naming "lacrygami." He emphasizes that this discovery could inspire advancements in soft material engineering and robotics, particularly for developing deployable microscopic machines that could be used in various fields, including space telescopes and miniature surgical robots.
This research, published in the journal
Science, paves the way for new explorations into how biological structures can inspire technological innovations. Eliott Flaum explains that "when you store folds at a helical angle, you can store an infinite amount of material." This demonstrates how biology has elegantly and efficiently solved complex problems.
Article author: Cédric DEPOND