Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 31, 2026
14:08
Blastomere Explants to Test for Cell Fate Commitment During Embryonic Development
Published on: January 26, 2013
15.8K
Instructed-Assembly (iA): A Molecular Process for Controlling Cell Fate.
1Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA.
Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan
|December 19, 2018
Summary
Instructed-assembly (iA) uses trigger events to create ordered molecular structures, offering spatiotemporal control for biomedical applications like cancer therapy and tissue engineering.
Area of Science:
- Biomimetic chemistry
- Supramolecular chemistry
- Chemical biology
Background:
- Instructed-assembly (iAssembly or iA) is a biomimetic process.
- It involves forming ordered molecular superstructures triggered by specific events.
- iA transitions systems between equilibrium states.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce the concept and applications of iA.
- To illustrate iA strategies in complex environments like cells and animals.
- To highlight iA's potential in controlling cell fate and molecular processes.
Main Methods:
- Reviewing representative examples of iA.
- Discussing iA applications in biological systems.
- Exploring the interplay of self-assembly, iA, and self-organization.
Main Results:
- iA provides spatiotemporal control for biomedical applications.
- Examples demonstrate iA's utility in cellular and animal models.
- Simultaneous multi-process systems show significant promise.
Conclusions:
- iA offers a facile route for chemists to explore emergent properties of molecular assemblies.
- iA enables precise control over molecular processes and cell fate.
- The simultaneous occurrence of multiple processes like iA and self-organization unlocks novel applications.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Introduction to Statistical Process Control
644
Statistical Process Control (SPC) is a method used to monitor and control quality within processes, particularly in manufacturing and service delivery, by employing statistical methods. SPC aims to distinguish between natural (common cause) variation and variation due to specific changes or events (special cause), allowing for timely improvements and sustained quality. The control chart, a pivotal tool in SPC, visually displays data over time alongside a central line of upper and lower control...
644
01:20Fates of Pyruvate
10.8K
Pyruvate is the end product of glycolysis, where glucose is oxidized to pyruvate, simultaneously reducing NAD+ to NADH. Two molecules of ATP are also produced by substrate-level phosphorylation.
In aerobic organisms, pyruvate is metabolized via the citric acid cycle to produce reduced coenzymes NADH and FADH2. These coenzymes are then oxidized in the electron transport chain to produce ATP and, in the process, regenerate the NAD+ and FAD. As seen in some cell types and organisms, fermentation...
In aerobic organisms, pyruvate is metabolized via the citric acid cycle to produce reduced coenzymes NADH and FADH2. These coenzymes are then oxidized in the electron transport chain to produce ATP and, in the process, regenerate the NAD+ and FAD. As seen in some cell types and organisms, fermentation...
10.8K
02:41Protein Complex Assembly
16.8K
Proteins can form homomeric complexes with another unit of the same protein or heteromeric complexes with different types. Most protein complexes self-assemble spontaneously via ordered pathways, while some proteins need assembly factors that guide their proper assembly. Despite the crowded intracellular environment, proteins usually interact with their correct partners and form functional complexes.
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...
16.8K
01:28The Cell Cycle Control System
5.6K
The cell cycle regulation directs how a cell proceeds from one phase to the next and begins mitosis. The cell cycle control system includes intracellular regulatory molecules and external triggers. They provide "stop" or "advance" signals and operate at specific cell cycle stages termed checkpoints to ensure that a particular process is completed before the cell advances to the next phase.
Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) are the primary cell cycle regulators and...
Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) are the primary cell cycle regulators and...
5.6K
02:11The Cell Cycle Control System
14.3K
The cell cycle is an organized set of events that leads the cell to divide into two daughter cells, each containing chromosomes identical to the parent cell. It is the cell cycle that leads to the formation of an entire organism from a single-cell zygote. Besides, cell division also functions in the renewal or repair of tissues in adult multicellular eukaryotes. For example, in the bone marrow, the stem cells divide to form new blood cells. Although essential for several functions, cell...
14.3K
01:19Personal Choice and Fate Attributions
175
Some individuals interpret life events as a consequence of their personal choices and actions, while others believe that outcomes are dictated by fate or destiny. This divergence in perspective has been examined in psychological and cross-cultural studies, particularly in relation to religious faith and cultural beliefs about causality.Fate and Personal ResponsibilityPeople who emphasize personal responsibility view events as direct consequences of their decisions. For instance, breaking a leg...
175