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Origami Inspired Self-assembly of Patterned and Reconfigurable Particles
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Pollen wall patterns as a model for biological self-assembly.

Asja Radja1

  • 1School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part B, Molecular and Developmental Evolution
|September 29, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Predicting organism shape from genes is challenging. Understanding how molecules self-assemble, like in pollen walls, is key to modeling diverse extracellular morphologies and development.

Keywords:
exineexine patternmathematical modelingmorphometricspattern formationphysical modelingpollenself-assembly

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Area of Science:

  • * Developmental Biology
  • * Biophysics
  • * Mathematical Modeling

Background:

  • * Predicting organismal shape solely from genetic codes remains a significant challenge in biology.
  • * Pollen grains, as single-celled microgametophytes, exhibit diverse and intricate wall structures.
  • * The complex morphology of pollen walls offers a unique system for studying shape development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To explore the crucial role of macromolecular self-assembly in biological shape development, independent of genetic codes.
  • * To highlight the potential of pollen walls as a model system for investigating the interplay between genetic products and physical processes in morphogenesis.
  • * To outline current knowledge of pollen wall biology pertinent to quantitative analysis and mathematical modeling.

Main Methods:

  • * Review of existing literature on pollen wall biology and macromolecular self-assembly.
  • * Identification of quantifiable aspects of pollen wall patterning amenable to physical and mathematical modeling.
  • * Enumeration of specific approaches for elucidating the physical processes governing pollen wall construction.

Main Results:

  • * Pollen walls serve as an excellent system for dissecting both genetic influences and physical self-assembly in generating extracellular morphology.
  • * Significant progress has been made in understanding pollen wall development, providing a foundation for modeling efforts.
  • * Various aspects of pollen wall patterning are identifiable and suitable for mathematical and physical modeling.

Conclusions:

  • * Deciphering the physical processes of macromolecular self-assembly is as vital as understanding genetic contributions to shape development.
  • * Pollen grains offer a powerful model system for integrating genetic and biophysical approaches to understand the diversity of biological shapes.
  • * Further research employing mathematical and physical modeling can unlock the mechanisms behind the intricate patterns of pollen walls.