scholarly journals The Scissors Model of Microcrack Detection in Bone: Work in Progress

2010 ◽  
Vol 1274 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Taylor ◽  
Lauren Mulcahy ◽  
Gerardo Presbitero ◽  
Pietro Tisbo ◽  
Clodagh Dooley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Biology ◽  
Cell Signalling ◽  
System Modelling ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Disease States ◽  
Bone Damage ◽  
Model Cell ◽  
Drug Treatments ◽  
Microcrack Detection

AbstractWe have proposed a new model for microcrack detection by osteocytes in bone. According to this model, cell signalling is initiated by the cutting of cellular processes which span the crack. We show that shear displacements of the crack faces are needed to rupture these processes, in an action similar to that of a pair of scissors. Current work involves a combination of cell biology experiments, theoretical and experimental fracture mechanics and system modelling using control theory approaches. The approach will be useful for understanding effects of extreme loading, aging, disease states and drug treatments on bone damage and repair; the present paper presents recent results from experiments and simulations as part of current, ongoing research.

The role of fatty acids in oocyte and early embryo development

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul J. McKeegan ◽  
Roger G. Sturmey
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Cell Signalling ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Membrane Composition ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Metabolic Functions ◽  
Human Fertility ◽  
Early Embryos

Growing evidence suggests that endogenous and exogenous fatty acids play diverse roles in developing mammalian oocytes and early embryos. In this review, we describe some of the regulatory roles of fatty acids in early development, in addition to their metabolic functions. We focus initially on the provision of individual fatty acids, and then discuss how these might affect metabolism, oxidative stress, membrane composition, cell signalling events and gene expression. We propose that ongoing research should focus on physiologically relevant ratios and combinations of fatty acids, rather than isolated individual fatty acids, as their combined roles are both subtle and complex. Changing the ratio of specific fatty acids in the diet of animal models, and in vitro culture medium can cause significant dysregulation of cellular processes and development, an issue that extends to human fertility.

scholarly journals Ovarian Cancer Dissemination—A Cell Biologist’s Perspective

Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1957 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sadaf Farsinejad ◽  
Thomas Cattabiani ◽  
Taru Muranen ◽  
Marcin Iwanicki
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Peritoneal Dissemination ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Disease States ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Cancer Dissemination ◽  
Current Stage

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) comprises multiple disease states representing a variety of distinct tumors that, irrespective of tissue of origin, genetic aberrations and pathological features, share common patterns of dissemination to the peritoneal cavity. EOC peritoneal dissemination is a stepwise process that includes the formation of malignant outgrowths that detach and establish widespread peritoneal metastases through adhesion to serosal membranes. The cell biology associated with outgrowth formation, detachment, and de novo adhesion is at the nexus of diverse genetic backgrounds that characterize the disease. Development of treatment for metastatic disease will require detailed characterization of cellular processes involved in each step of EOC peritoneal dissemination. This article offers a review of the literature that relates to the current stage of knowledge about distinct steps of EOC peritoneal dissemination, with emphasis on the cell biology aspects of the process.

Biophysics (and sociology) of ceramides.

2005 ◽  
Vol 72 ◽  
pp. 177-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Félix M. Goñi ◽  
F-Xabier Contreras ◽  
L-Ruth Montes ◽  
Jesús Sot ◽  
Alicia Alonso
Keyword(s):  
Cell Biology ◽  
Positive Curvature ◽  
Acyl Chain ◽  
Cell Signalling ◽  
Hexagonal Structure ◽  
Lipid Monolayer ◽  
Flip Flop ◽  
Long Chain ◽  
Bilayer Permeability

In the past decade, the long-neglected ceramides (N-acylsphingosines) have become one of the most attractive lipid molecules in molecular cell biology, because of their involvement in essential structures (stratum corneum) and processes (cell signalling). Most natural ceramides have a long (16-24 C atoms) N-acyl chain, but short N-acyl chain ceramides (two to six C atoms) also exist in Nature, apart from being extensively used in experimentation, because they can be dispersed easily in water. Long-chain ceramides are among the most hydrophobic molecules in Nature, they are totally insoluble in water and they hardly mix with phospholipids in membranes, giving rise to ceramide-enriched domains. In situ enzymic generation, or external addition, of long-chain ceramides in membranes has at least three important effects: (i) the lipid monolayer tendency to adopt a negative curvature, e.g. through a transition to an inverted hexagonal structure, is increased, (ii) bilayer permeability to aqueous solutes is notoriously enhanced, and (iii) transbilayer (flip-flop) lipid motion is promoted. Short-chain ceramides mix much better with phospholipids, promote a positive curvature in lipid monolayers, and their capacities to increase bilayer permeability or transbilayer motion are very low or non-existent.

scholarly journals A Nut for Every Bolt: Subunit-Selective Inhibitors of the Immunoproteasome and Their Therapeutic Potential

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1929
Author(s):  
Eva M. Huber ◽  
Michael Groll
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Cell Signalling ◽  
Selective Inhibition ◽  
Ubiquitin Proteasome System ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Chemical Structures ◽  
Phase Ii Clinical Trials ◽  
Ubiquitin Proteasome ◽  
Recent Trends

At the heart of the ubiquitin–proteasome system, the 20S proteasome core particle (CP) breaks down the majority of intracellular proteins tagged for destruction. Thereby, the CP controls many cellular processes including cell cycle progression and cell signalling. Inhibitors of the CP can suppress these essential biological pathways, resulting in cytotoxicity, an effect that is beneficial for the treatment of certain blood cancer patients. During the last decade, several preclinical studies demonstrated that selective inhibition of the immunoproteasome (iCP), one of several CP variants in mammals, suppresses autoimmune diseases without inducing toxic side effects. These promising findings led to the identification of natural and synthetic iCP inhibitors with distinct chemical structures, varying potency and subunit selectivity. This review presents the most prominent iCP inhibitors with respect to possible scientific and medicinal applications, and discloses recent trends towards pan-immunoproteasome reactive inhibitors that cumulated in phase II clinical trials of the lead compound KZR-616 for chronic inflammations.

scholarly journals The organisation and functions of local Ca2+ signals

2001 ◽  
Vol 114 (12) ◽  
pp. 2213-2222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin D. Bootman ◽  
Peter Lipp ◽  
Michael J. Berridge
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Gene Transcription ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Different Cell Types ◽  
Intracellular Messenger ◽  
Sensory Mechanisms

Calcium (Ca2+) is a ubiquitous intracellular messenger, controlling a diverse range of cellular processes, such as gene transcription, muscle contraction and cell proliferation. The ability of a simple ion such as Ca2+ to play a pivotal role in cell biology results from the facility that cells have to shape Ca2+ signals in space, time and amplitude. To generate and interpret the variety of observed Ca2+ signals, different cell types employ components selected from a Ca2+ signalling ‘toolkit’, which comprises an array of homeostatic and sensory mechanisms. By mixing and matching components from the toolkit, cells can obtain Ca2+ signals that suit their physiology. Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of local Ca2+ signals in defining the specificity of the interaction of Ca2+ with its targets. Furthermore, local Ca2+ signals are the triggers and building blocks for larger global signals that propagate throughout cells.

scholarly journals Eukaryotic systems broaden the scope of synthetic biology

2009 ◽  
Vol 187 (5) ◽  
pp. 589-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karmella A. Haynes ◽  
Pamela A. Silver
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Nucleic Acids ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Cell Behavior ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Complex Cells ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Foundational Work ◽  
Biology Research

Synthetic biology aims to engineer novel cellular functions by assembling well-characterized molecular parts (i.e., nucleic acids and proteins) into biological “devices” that exhibit predictable behavior. Recently, efforts in eukaryotic synthetic biology have sprung from foundational work in bacteria. Designing synthetic circuits to operate reliably in the context of differentiating and morphologically complex cells presents unique challenges and opportunities for progress in the field. This review surveys recent advances in eukaryotic synthetic biology and describes how synthetic systems can be linked to natural cellular processes in order to manipulate cell behavior and to foster new discoveries in cell biology research.

Lipid Cell Biology: A Focus on Lipids in Cell Division

2018 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 839-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth M. Storck ◽  
Cagakan Özbalci ◽  
Ulrike S. Eggert
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Cell Division ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Chemical Biology ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Advanced Imaging ◽  
Functional Roles ◽  
Lipid Interactions ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Alkyl Side Chains

Cells depend on hugely diverse lipidomes for many functions. The actions and structural integrity of the plasma membrane and most organelles also critically depend on membranes and their lipid components. Despite the biological importance of lipids, our understanding of lipid engagement, especially the roles of lipid hydrophobic alkyl side chains, in key cellular processes is still developing. Emerging research has begun to dissect the importance of lipids in intricate events such as cell division. This review discusses how these structurally diverse biomolecules are spatially and temporally regulated during cell division, with a focus on cytokinesis. We analyze how lipids facilitate changes in cellular morphology during division and how they participate in key signaling events. We identify which cytokinesis proteins are associated with membranes, suggesting lipid interactions. More broadly, we highlight key unaddressed questions in lipid cell biology and techniques, including mass spectrometry, advanced imaging, and chemical biology, which will help us gain insights into the functional roles of lipids.

The protease MBTPS2 is an important regulator of several cellular processes, especially in health and sickness

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moataz Dowaidar
Keyword(s):  
Active Sites ◽  
Peptide Bond ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Disease States ◽  
Tremendous Progress ◽  
Catalytic Sites ◽  
Important Regulator ◽  
Catalytic Active Sites ◽  
Proteolytic Action ◽  
Health And Sickness

Since the identification of MBTPS2 in 1997, tremendous progress has been made in determining the protease's functions. The protease has developed from an element of the SREBP cleavage machinery to an important regulator of several cellular processes, especially in health and sickness. With this newfound information from biochemical and structural biology, S2P's proteolytic action through peptide bond hydrolysis can occur in the membrane, providing a conceptual framework for appreciating S2P's roles in other aspects, and showing that many other substrates rely on S2P for their survival. In addition, we discovered the identity of both of S2P's catalytic active sites, an essential finding as the activity of the proteolysis as well as the pathogenesis of MBTPS2-caused illnesses seems to be connected to the molecular and biochemical features of the catalytic sites. Additionally, MBTPS2 causes different diseases, possibly illustrating the pleiotropic nature of the protein. Also, while the ailments reported thus far are all due to mutations that cause MBTPS2 to lose function, other variants that cause MBTPS2 to be hyperactive have not been examined. Nevertheless, recognizing the related sickness pathomechanism is a challenge. Pursuing these challenging technical areas would most definitely enhance our understanding of MBTPS2 in disease states. MBTPS2 appears to be nearing the solution to many of the remaining fundamental questions surrounding the mechanism of its action, as well as being a therapeutic target for new therapies.

scholarly journals Teaching a biology laboratory course using Dictyostelium

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (8-9-10) ◽  
pp. 551-561
Author(s):  
David A. Knecht ◽  
Kate M. Cooper ◽  
Jonathan E. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Model System ◽  
Educational Settings ◽  
Biology Teaching ◽  
Laboratory Course ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Laboratory Courses ◽  
Biology Laboratory

The Dictyostelium discoideum model system is a powerful tool for undergraduate cell biology teaching laboratories. The cells are biologically safe, grow at room temperature and it is easy to experimentally induce, observe, and perturb a breadth of cellular processes making the system amenable to many teaching lab situations and goals. Here we outline the advantages of Dictyostelium, discuss laboratory courses we teach in three very different educational settings, and provide tips for both the novice and experienced Dictyostelium researcher. With this article and the extensive sets of protocols and tools referenced here, implementing these labs, or parts of them, will be relatively straightforward for any instructor.

scholarly journals To See or Not to See: A Systematic Review of the Importance of Human Ocular Surface Cytokine Biosignatures in Ocular Allergy

Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esrin Aydin ◽  
Moneisha Gokhale ◽  
Serap Azizoglu ◽  
Cenk Suphioglu
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Ocular Surface ◽  
Cell Signalling ◽  
Magnetic Bead ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Ocular Allergy ◽  
Antibody Testing ◽  
Disease States ◽  
Cytokine Detection ◽  
Diagnostic Applications

Cytokines are key cell signalling proteins in a number of immune and homeostatic pathways of the human body. In particular, they mediate intracellular mechanisms of allergy on the ocular surface by triggering cellular responses that result in typical physiological ocular allergy symptoms, such as itchiness, watery eyes, irritation, and swelling. Given the recent research focus in optometry on the aetiology of corneal ectasia subtypes like keratoconus, there is an increasing need for the development of new clinical diagnostic methods. An increasing trend is evident among recent publications in cytokine studies, whereby the concentrations of cytokines in healthy and disease states are compared to derive a specific cytokine profile for that disease referred to as ‘biosignatures’. Biosignatures have diagnostic applications in ocular allergy as a cheap, non-invasive alternative to current techniques like IgE antibody testing and skin prick tests. Cytokine detection from tear samples collected via microcapillary flow can be analysed either by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), multiplex magnetic bead assays, or immunoblot assays. Characterising patient hypersensitivities through diagnostic tests is the first step to managing exposure to triggers. Investigating cytokine biosignatures in ocular allergy and their links to physiology are imperative and will be the focus of this systematic review article.

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