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Transcriptomic balance and optimal growth are determined by cell size.
Pedro J Vidal1, Alexis P Pérez2, Galal Yahya3
1Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB), CSIC, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
Molecular Cell
|July 31, 2024
Summary
Cell size impacts growth rate, with optimal performance at a specific critical size. This critical size balances the cell's transcriptome for maximal growth and fitness.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Genomics
- Biophysics
Background:
- Cell size and growth are fundamental biological processes.
- The precise role of cell size in achieving maximal growth and fitness remains an open question.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between cell size, growth rate, and cellular fitness.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms, particularly transcriptomic regulation, underlying cell size control.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of growth rate as a function of cell volume in yeast.
- Transcriptomic profiling of yeast and mouse cells across different cell sizes.
- Theoretical modeling and experimental validation of RNA polymerase II dynamics.
Main Results:
- Cell growth rate exhibits a non-monotonic dependence on cell volume, peaking at the critical size.
- Cell size influences the transcriptome, showing a relative inversion pattern in yeast and mouse cells.
- Reduced DNA/mass ratio negatively impacts fitness, while transcriptomic changes mimicking cell size alterations restrain growth.
Conclusions:
- Cells appear to regulate their critical size to achieve a balanced transcriptome.
- This critical size is essential for maximizing proliferation, growth, and overall fitness.
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