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Twisted liquid crystalline supramolecular arrangements in morphogenesis
1Histophysique et Cytophysique, Université P. et M. Curie and CNRS, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France.
International Review of Cytology
|January 1, 1996
Summary
Biological macromolecules self-assemble into liquid crystalline structures, influencing cellular and extracellular formations. Understanding these cholesteric geometries is key to unraveling the morphogenesis of complex biological structures.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Materials Science
- Structural Biology
Background:
- Biological systems exhibit supramolecular assemblies with liquid crystalline cholesteric geometries.
- These structures are observed using polarized-light microscopy and electron microscopy.
- Key macromolecules involved include extracellular matrix polymers, genetic material, and cytoplasmic proteins.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the liquid crystalline assembly properties of biological polymers.
- To demonstrate these properties through in vitro experiments.
- To understand the role of self-ordering processes in cellular and extracellular morphogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of optical properties via polarized-light microscopy.
- Determination of structural data using electron microscopy.
- In vitro experiments with basic and higher-order biological molecules.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated liquid crystalline assembly in cellulose, chitin, collagen, and DNA.
- Observed cholesteric geometries in crystallites and fibrils.
- Confirmed self-ordering processes in cellular and extracellular edifices.
Conclusions:
- Liquid crystalline self-ordering is fundamental to building biological structures.
- Studying these mesomorphic states offers insights into the structure and morphogenesis of densely packed biological materials.