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Related Concept Videos

Determining the Plane of Cell Division02:13

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Positioning the cell division plane is a critical step during development and cell differentiation, particularly during mitosis when the plane is essential for determining the size of the two daughter cells. The cell division plane is perpendicular to the plane of chromosome segregation, but different types of organisms have different cell division mechanisms to suit their morphology and function. 
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How does a complex organism such as a human develop from a single cell? It all starts from a single fertilized egg which gives rise to a vast array of cell types, such as nerve cells, muscle cells, and epithelial cells that characterize the adult? Throughout development and adulthood, cellular differentiation leads cells to assume their final morphology and physiology. Differentiation is the process by which unspecialized cells become specialized to carry out distinct functions.
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Biological membranes show uneven distribution of different types of lipids in the inner and outer layers, resulting in transverse asymmetric membranes. The treatment of the erythrocyte membrane with the enzyme phospholipase confirmed the asymmetric nature of the lipid bilayer. The enzyme hydrolyzes lipids into fatty acids and hydrophilic groups. The phospholipase acts only on the outer layer of the membrane, while the inner layer remains intact. The phospholipase treatment resulted in 80%...
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The intrinsic polarity of cells can be primarily attributed to two factors- i) the asymmetric accumulation of mobile components such are regulatory molecules and subcellular components across the cell and ii) the orientation of polar cytoskeletal filaments that make up the cytoskeletal networks, specifically microfilaments, and microtubules arranged along the axis of polarity. Interactions between the cytoskeletal filaments are crucial for the establishment and maintenance of the polar nature...
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Nondisjunction is the failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate correctly and move to the opposite poles of the cells. This produces daughter cells with abnormal chromosome numbers.  Nondisjunction is common during anaphase I or anaphase II of meiosis.  Mutations in synaptonemal complex proteins that attach homologous chromosomes increase the chances of nondisjunction in anaphase I of meiosis I. In contrast, mutations in topoisomerases and condensins that hold...
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The living membranes are flexible due to their fluid mosaic nature; however, their bending into different shapes is an active process regulated by specific lipids and proteins. The membrane bending can be transient as seen in vesicles or stable for a long time as in microvilli. Cells regulate the size, location, and duration of the membrane curvature.
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Finite Element Modelling of a Cellular Electric Microenvironment
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Order from chaos: cellular asymmetries explained with modelling.

Sofia Barbieri1, Monica Gotta1

  • 1Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva 1211, Switzerland.

Trends in Cell Biology
|August 13, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cells establish molecular patterns despite physical forces. This review explores models explaining how protein asymmetries arise in the C. elegans embryo, defying random motion.

Keywords:
cortical and cytoplasmic polaritydeterministic and stochastic modellingmolecular patterningprotein dynamicsreaction–diffusion mechanisms

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Cells maintain ordered molecular patterns crucial for function and fate specification.
  • Establishing these patterns involves overcoming random molecular motion (Brownian motion).
  • Protein asymmetries in the Caenorhabditis elegans one-cell embryo form rapidly during cell division.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review mathematical and computational models explaining molecular dynamics.
  • To understand mechanisms establishing protein asymmetries in the C. elegans one-cell embryo.
  • To interpret cortical and cytoplasmic asymmetries at the single-molecule level.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing mathematical and computational models.
  • Analysis of models interpreting protein dynamics.
  • Focus on models relevant to the C. elegans one-cell embryo.

Main Results:

  • Models provide insights into how cells establish order from randomness.
  • Mathematical frameworks help understand single-molecule dynamics.
  • Reviewed models explain the formation of cortical and cytoplasmic asymmetries.

Conclusions:

  • Mathematical and computational modeling are essential for understanding cellular organization.
  • These models elucidate mechanisms underlying rapid pattern formation in early development.
  • The review synthesizes current modeling approaches for C. elegans embryo asymmetries.