Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
  1. Home
  2. Search

Refine search

Refine search

Access:
Content type:
Publication date:
Apply   From and To filters
Subject: Show more
Journals Show more
Publishers: Show more
Societies Show more
Series: Show more
Collections: Show more

Actions for selected content:

Select all | Deselect all
  • View selected items
  • Export citations
  • Download PDF (zip)
  • Save to Kindle
  • Save to Dropbox
  • Save to Google Drive

Save Search

You can save your searches here and later view and run them again in "My saved searches".

Please provide a title, maximum of 40 characters.
Cancel
×

1 results

  • 6 - Cellular Memory

  • Kunihiko Kaneko, Niels Bohr Institutet, Copenhagen
  • Book:
    Universal Biology
    Published online:
    11 November 2025
    Print publication:
    20 November 2025, pp 157-180

  • Summary

    Cells are capable of maintaining a long-term memory in addition to genetic information, which is generally referred to as epigenetics. In the study of memory, digital memory has been often assumed, which is understood as multistability, whereas in the cell there is another form of memory – continuous (analog), kinetic memory. Referring to the kinetic constraints of the glass theory, it is shown that a kinetic memory with slow relaxation emerges as an alternative to the conventional memories of multiple stable states. It is characterized by a slow logarithmic change with several plateaus that can be occupied during the relaxation process. If the same enzyme catalyzes a stepwise reaction, as long as the amount of such enzyme is not sufficient, the reaction process can be hindered by enzyme-limited competition, resulting in kinetic memory. A combination of catalytic reactions can create a negative correlation between the amount of substrate and enzyme in it, thereby allowing a slow relaxation process with many plateaus, where multiple states can be maintained over a long period of time.