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Is the cell a gel--and why does it matter?

¹Department of Bioengineering 357962, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. ghp@u.washington.edu

The Japanese Journal of Physiology

|February 16, 2002

Summary

The cell, understood as a gel, may function via polymer gel phase-transitions. This mechanism, involving structural changes, could explain cellular tasks, offering a new perspective beyond simple diffusion models.

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Area of Science:

Cell biology
Biophysics
Polymer science

Background:

Cells are often described as gels, but cellular mechanisms are frequently explained using aqueous solution models.
A disconnect exists between the gel concept of cells and the understanding of gel behavior among biologists.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore cell function through the lens of polymer gel behavior.
To investigate the potential role of phase-transitions in cellular mechanisms.

Main Methods:

Examining the dichotomy between cell-as-gel and cell-as-aqueous-solution models.
Establishing a gel-based framework for cell behavior using physical-chemical features.

Main Results:

Recent advances illuminate gel behavior, highlighting phase-transitions as key functional mechanisms.
Phase-transitions, akin to ice-to-water changes, are capable of performing work within gels.

Conclusions:

Viewing the cell as a gel provides a framework for understanding its everyday tasks.
The polymer gel phase-transition emerges as a potential unifying mechanism for cell function.

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