Non-monotonic temperature dependence of nanoscopic dynamics measured in living housefly larvae

• Published in: Physica. B, Condensed matter Vol. 566; no. C; pp. 23 - 29
• Main Author: Mamontov, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.08.2019; Elsevier BV; Elsevier
• Subjects: Arthropods; BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY; Control equipment; Dynamics; Flatworms; Housefly larvae; Insects; Larvae; Living organisms; NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY; Nanoscopic dynamics; Neutron scattering; Temperature; Temperature control; Temperature dependence; Time; Nanoscopic dynamics; Housefly larvae; Living organisms
• ISSN: 0921-4526; 1873-2135
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physb.2019.01.021

We have studied nanoscopic dynamics on pico-to nano-second time scale in living housefly (Musca domestica) larvae using quasielastic neutron scattering. Model-independent data exhibit two distinct dynamic components measurable on the time scale probed in the experiment. The broad component is reminiscent of water dynamics, but somewhat slower, and must be associated with the scattering contribution from the hemolymph in larvae. The narrow (slow) component is similar in appearance to the dynamics measured previously in the living planarian flatworms. Unlike the monotonic temperature dependence for the hemolymph dynamics, the temperature dependence for the slow dynamic component shows an increase at 298 K, in the middle of the measured (on cooling down) range of 303.8 to 289.3 K. A similar increase at 298 K, in the middle of the measured (on warming up, and with different sample environment temperature control equipment used) range of 284.5–304.1 K, has been previously observed for the slow dynamic component in living planarian flatworms. An increase in the measurable nanoscopic dynamics at a mid-range temperature of 298 K, decoupled from the hemolymph dynamics, is an unexpected phenomenon, apparently observable among organisms from different phyla, such as flatworms and arthropods. [Display omitted] •Nanoscopic dynamics in living housefly larvae was probed by neutron scattering.•One dynamic component is assigned to the cell constituents, another to the hemolymph.•The temperature dependence of the cell constituents dynamics shows a maximum at 298 K.•Dynamics in living planaria studied earlier showed a maximum at the same temperature.