Complexity and self-organization in the evolution of cell polarization
Marieke M Glazenburg1, Liedewij Laan1
1Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands.
Journal of Cell Science
|January 24, 2023
Summary
Cell polarization, a key ordering process in evolution, emerges from self-organizing molecular interactions. This review explores how self-organization drives the evolution of cellular complexity in fungi.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Cell biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Cellular life evolves towards increased order and complexity.
- Cell polarization establishes a cell's axis through symmetry breaking.
- Self-organization, driven by molecular interactions, underlies many cellular processes.
Approach:
- This review examines the evolution of cell polarization as a self-organizing process.
- Focuses on the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae and related fungi.
- Discusses the link between self-organization and evolutionary change at the molecular level.
Key Points:
- Cell polarization is a self-organizing phenomenon crucial for cellular order.
- The evolution of protein networks involved in polarization is explored.
- Self-organization offers a new perspective on microscopic evolutionary mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Self-organization plays a significant role in the evolution of cellular complexity.
- Understanding self-organization in model organisms like yeast provides insights into broader evolutionary principles.
- This perspective shifts focus to the biophysical underpinnings of evolutionary change.
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