scholarly journals Discovery of keratin function and role in genetic diseases: the year that 1991 was

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (18) ◽  
pp. 2807-2810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre A. Coulombe

In 1991, a set of transgenic mouse studies took the fields of cell biology and dermatology by storm in providing the first credible evidence that keratin intermediate filaments play a unique and essential role in the structural and mechanical support in keratinocytes of the epidermis. Moreover, these studies intimated that mutations altering the primary structure and function of keratin filaments underlie genetic diseases typified by cellular fragility. This Retrospective on how these studies came to be is offered as a means to highlight the 25th anniversary of these discoveries.

2014 ◽  
Vol 155 (26) ◽  
pp. 1011-1018 ◽  
Author(s):  
György Végvári ◽  
Edina Vidéki

Plants seem to be rather defenceless, they are unable to do motion, have no nervous system or immune system unlike animals. Besides this, plants do have hormones, though these substances are produced not in glands. In view of their complexity they lagged behind animals, however, plant organisms show large scale integration in their structure and function. In higher plants, such as in animals, the intercellular communication is fulfilled through chemical messengers. These specific compounds in plants are called phytohormones, or in a wide sense, bioregulators. Even a small quantity of these endogenous organic compounds are able to regulate the operation, growth and development of higher plants, and keep the connection between cells, tissues and synergy beween organs. Since they do not have nervous and immume systems, phytohormones play essential role in plants’ life. Orv. Hetil., 2014, 155(26), 1011–1018.


2020 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 258a
Author(s):  
Laszlo Csernoch ◽  
Mónika Gönczi ◽  
Zsolt Ráduly ◽  
László Szabó ◽  
Nóra Dobrosi ◽  
...  

Zygote ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Sun ◽  
F. Tang ◽  
A Y. Yan ◽  
H. Y. Fang ◽  
H. Z. Sheng

SummarySRG3 (Smarcc1) is a core subunit of the SWI/SNF complex. In the absence of SRG3, embryonic development ceases during peri-implantation stages, indicating that SRG3, as well as the chromatin-remodelling process, plays an essential role in early mouse development. To gain a better understanding of chromatin remodelling during the early stages of development, we examined SRG3 expression during oogenesis and preimplantation stages using immunofluorescence and western blot assays. SRG3 was detected in nuclei of oocytes during growth and maturation. Following fertilization, SRG3 was detected in pronuclei shortly after their formation. Nuclear concentrations of SRG3 increased in a time-dependent fashion and were found to be greater in the male pronucleus than in the female pronucleus. The increase in nuclear SRG3 was partially inhibited by a protein synthesis inhibitor, but not by a transcriptional inhibitor. Expression of SRG3 is accompanied by expression of Brg1 and Ini1, two other core subunits of the SWI/SNF complex. The expression of these three remodelling factors parallels that of SP1 and TBP, both spatially and temporally, in the mouse embryo, suggesting a role for remodelling factors in chromatin structure and function during early development.


1984 ◽  
Vol 246 (2) ◽  
pp. R133-R151 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Clegg

The nucleoplasm, the interiors of cytoplasmic membrane-bound organelles, and the aqueous cytoplasm make up the aqueous compartments of animal cells. The extent to which these compartments are concentrated solutions of macromolecules, metabolites, ions, and other solutes is a matter of some importance to current thinking about cell structure and function. This paper will focus on the aqueous cytoplasm. It will show that the composition and metabolic activities of the cytosol, obtained by methods of cell disruption and fractionation, bear almost no resemblance to those of the aqueous cytoplasm in intact cells. The consequences of this to contemporary views on cell structure and function are considered. A closely related topic concerns the physical properties of the dominant component of these compartments, water: Are these properties the same as those of water in aqueous solutions, or are they altered as a result of interaction with cell architecture? Available evidence strongly suggests that at least a large fraction of the total cell water exhibits properties that markedly differ from those of pure water. Selected examples of these studies will be reviewed, and the roles of cell water will be discussed, notably as they relate to metabolism and cell ultrastructure. Although dimly perceived at present, it appears that living cells exhibit an organization far greater than the current teachings of cell biology reveal.


1984 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 167s-171s ◽  
Author(s):  
J S Clegg

The extent to which the properties of water in cells are like those of water in dilute aqueous solutions is a question of broad significance to cell biology. A detailed answer is not available at present, although evidence is accumulating that the properties of at least a large fraction of intracellular water are altered by interactions with cell ultrastructure, notably the cytomatrix. That and related evidence also suggests that the properties, composition, and activities of the "aqueous cytoplasm" of intact cells bear little resemblance to those of the "cytosol" obtained by cell fractionation. This paper will consider some of the evidence for these possibilities and some of their potential consequences with regard to cellular structure and function.


Author(s):  
Eve S. Wurtele ◽  
Diane C. Bassham ◽  
Julie Dickerson ◽  
David J. Kabala ◽  
William Schneller ◽  
...  

Knowledge of cellular structure and function has increased dramatically with the advent of modern molecular and computational technologies. Helping students to understand cellular dynamics is a major challenge to educators. To address this challenge, we have developed the Kabala Engine, an open source engine based on OpenSG (http://www.opensg.org) and VRJuggler (http://www.vrjuggler.org). This engine is designed to enable biologists, and indeed any domain expert — chemists, artists, psychologists — to create virtual interactive worlds for teaching or research. As a proof-of-concept, we have used this engine to create Meta!Blast, a virtual plant cell containing a prototype chloroplast in which students can enter, activate the light reactions, including electron excitation, and create molecular oxygen and ATP.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-241
Author(s):  
Mai Lill Suhr Lunde ◽  
Tone Fredsvik Gregers

This study aimed to investigate Norwegian eighth-grade students’ preconceptions of cells, the development of their understanding of cellular structure and function during cell biology instruction, and their understanding of the cell as a system. We conducted pre- and posttests including drawings, images and statements with 28 students. Our findings indicate that most students had a simplified view of cells prior to instruction but developed significant knowledge about cellular structures and different types of cells during instruction. However, several misconceptions arose, and some students seemed to alter their correct preconceptions. This suggests that teachers need to address misconceptions during instruction and support integration of students’ previous and new knowledge. Additionally, we suggest that focusing on numerous structures and cells from different organisms confuses students and complicates the process of achieving a systemic view of the cell.


Author(s):  
Francois P. Retief ◽  
Louise Cilliers

In Ancient Egypt mummification was associated with extensive organ resection, but the brain was removed through a hole cut in the ethnocide bone. It was thus not observed as an organ. Greek writers of the 6th and 5th centuries BC originally said the brain was the seat of intelligence, the organ of sensory perception and partially the origin of sperm. The substance pneuma, originating from fresh air, played an essential role in brain function. Hippocrates initially described the brain as a double organ, covered by meninges and responsible for perception. Contemporaries like Plato, Aristotle and Diocles confirmed the findings though the latter two considered the heart to be the centre of intelligence. During the late 4th century BC, with the onset of the Hellenistic era of medicine, dissection of the human body was temporarily allowed at the medical school of Alexandria, and this led to a remarkable advance in the understanding of human anatomy and physiology under Herophilus and Erasistratus. Their excellent descriptions of the structure and function of the brain was only matched and surpassed by Galen in the 2nd century AD.


2022 ◽  
pp. 165-178
Author(s):  
Chunlong Mu ◽  
◽  
Weiyun Zhu ◽  

The gut epithelium acts as a barrier to the gut environment. The integrity of the epithelial structure and function is thus critical for microbiome-host interaction. The gut microbiome can regulate the utilization and synthesis of mucin, the expressions of the intercellular junction complex, and the functioning of specific epithelial cells, such as enterochromaffin cells and stem cells in pigs. The factors involved include microbial metabolites, especially short-chain fatty acids and host-microbe co-metabolism. Recent studies have revealed the essential role of amino acid metabolism in regulating the gut microbiome and epithelial barrier. This chapter discusses how the pig gut microbiome modulates epithelial structure and function, highlighting findings that reflect the relationship between the gut microbiome, intestinal structure and function.


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