Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 28, 2025
05:58
Detecting and Characterizing Protein Self-Assembly In Vivo by Flow Cytometry
Published on: July 17, 2019
11.1K
Contact-mediated signaling enables disorder-driven transitions in cellular assemblies
Chandrashekar Kuyyamudi1,2, Shakti N Menon1, Sitabhra Sinha1,2
1The Institute of Mathematical Sciences, CIT Campus, Taramani, Chennai 600113, India.
Physical Review. E
|September 16, 2022
Summary
Cell shape and size variations significantly impact tissue behavior during contact-mediated communication. This heterogeneity can alter cell differentiation patterns and lead to unique partially-ordered dynamical states in cellular systems.
Area of Science:
- Cellular biology
- Biophysics
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Cell-cell communication is crucial for tissue development and function.
- Tissue development relies on coordinated cellular behaviors.
- Understanding how cellular heterogeneity influences collective behavior is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of cell shape and size heterogeneity on collective cell behavior.
- To analyze how disorder in cellular arrangements affects tissue patterning and dynamics.
- To explore the role of intercellular coupling and cellular oscillations in heterogeneous tissues.
Main Methods:
- Computational modeling of cell-cell interactions.
- Simulation of contact-mediated signaling and lateral inhibition.
- Analysis of tissue-level pattern formation and cellular fate decisions.
- Investigation of coupled cellular oscillators under heterogeneous conditions.
Main Results:
- Cellular heterogeneity in shape and size leads to distinct collective tissue behaviors.
- Disorder-driven transitions alter differentiated cell patterns by modulating fate choice via neighborhood geometry.
- Contact-induced signals interacting with cellular oscillations result in functionally relevant partially-ordered dynamical states.
Conclusions:
- Cellular heterogeneity is a key factor shaping collective cell behavior and tissue development.
- Disruptions in cellular arrangement can lead to significant changes in tissue patterning and cell differentiation.
- Emergent partially-ordered dynamics in heterogeneous cell populations have functional relevance.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Assembly of Signaling Complexes
5.9K
Multiprotein signaling complexes are formed in a dynamic process involving protein-protein interactions at the cytoplasmic domain of transmembrane receptors or enzymatic and non-enzymatic proteins associated with the receptor. These complexes ensure the activation and propagation of intracellular signals that regulate cell functions.
Interaction domains in cell signaling
Interaction domains recognize exposed features of their binding partners containing post-translationally modified sequences,...
Interaction domains in cell signaling
Interaction domains recognize exposed features of their binding partners containing post-translationally modified sequences,...
5.9K
01:32Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration
4.8K
A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker...
4.8K
01:17Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
2.8K
Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
Some...
2.8K
01:19Contact-dependent Signaling
44.9K
Contact-dependent signaling, as the name suggests, requires that communicating cells be in direct contact with each other. This is achieved either through receptor-ligand interactions or by specialized cytoplasmic channels that allow the flow of small molecules between cells. In animal cells, channels called gap junctions facilitate contact-dependent signaling in certain tissues, whereas, plasmodesmata perform a similar function in plants.
Gap Junctions
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...
Gap Junctions
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...
44.9K
01:18Assembly of Cytoskeletal Filaments
21.3K
Cytoskeletal filaments are polymeric forms of smaller protein subunits. However, individual cytoskeletal filaments may easily disassemble or associate with other similar filaments to form rigid structures. Microfilaments, made of actin monomers, rely on actin-binding proteins to form bundles and create networks of individual actin filaments. Microtubules rely on microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) to form sturdy cylindrical structures. However, the proteins involved in forming complex...
21.3K
02:41Protein Complex Assembly
10.7K
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...
10.7K