Cells use their shape to direct the type of cell their offspring becomes in a new, asymmetric form of division that could revolutionize tissue engineering and cancer research.
A New Way of Cell Division Could Revolutionize Tissue Engineering and Cancer Research
Cells in the human body can divide in a way that is opposite to what’s typically described in textbooks. Instead of becoming round as they prepare to divide, cells can use their shape to direct the type of cell their offspring becomes.
Cell division is a fundamental biological process that occurs in all living organisms.
It involves the duplication and separation of a cell's genetic material, resulting in two daughter cells with identical DNA.
The process consists of several stages: interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, and cytokinesis.
During interphase, the 'cell grows and prepares for division by replicating its DNA.'
In prophase, the chromosomes condense and attach to the spindle fibers.
Metaphase occurs when the chromosomes align at the center of the cell.
Anaphase follows, where sister chromatids separate.
Telophase involves the reformation of nuclear membranes, and cytokinesis results in the physical separation of the two daughter cells.
The Shape of Cells Matters: A New Form of Cell Division
Scientists have discovered a new form of cell division where cells use the information encoded in their shape to decide what kind of cell their offspring will become. This is different from the traditional round cell division, which makes it easier for cells to distribute their contents equally between their ‘daughter’ cells.
However, this new form of cell division is not unique to stem cells. Researchers have found that non-stem cells in developing blood vessels of zebrafish embryos are also dividing asymmetrically. These cells, known as endothelial cells, were migrating to form new blood vessel branches and divided without rounding to create two different types.
A Key Discovery
When the team manipulated the shape of human endothelial cells in a lab dish, it confirmed that their shape before division predicted how symmetric that division was going to be. Longer, thinner cells were the most likely to divide asymmetrically, suggesting that cells can fine-tune the nature of their divisions depending on their shape.
Endothelial cells are a type of cell that lines the interior surface of blood vessels and lymphatic vessels.
They form a thin layer, known as the endothelium, which separates the vessel's lumen from its surrounding tissue.
Endothelial cells play a crucial role in maintaining vascular health by regulating blood flow, blood pressure, and preventing blood clotting.
They also participate in immune responses, inflammation, and wound healing processes.
This new form of cell division means that cells don’t lose information about their structure and behavior as they would if they underwent rounding. Instead, they retain their shape and can transfer this ‘memory’ to their offspring. This allows cells to respond quickly to dynamic demands, such as the need to supply an expanding tissue with blood vessels or nerves.
Cell memory refers to the ability of cells to retain and transmit epigenetic marks, which affect gene expression without altering the DNA sequence.
This complex process involves chemical modifications to histone proteins or DNA methylation, influencing chromatin structure and gene transcription.
Research has shown that environmental factors, such as diet and stress, can impact cell memory, leading to changes in gene expression and potentially contributing to diseases like cancer.
Studies have also identified key players in cell memory, including enzymes and transcription factors, which regulate epigenetic marks.
Applications for Growing Replacement Tissues
The discovery of this new form of cell division could have significant applications for growing replacement tissues in the lab. The ability to grow blood vessels is a key limitation in this field, and manipulating cell shapes could offer a new way to generate certain cell types.
Cancer research may also benefit from this new understanding of cell division. Cancer spreads by generating clusters of migrating cells, so the new findings could provide further insight into how they do this.
A Clever Mechanism
This discovery highlights the importance of considering the shape of cells in our understanding of biology. It’s a clever way for organisms to tweak mechanisms like cell rounding to achieve different goals, such as the multitasking needed to sculpt developing tissues.
As one expert noted, ‘It’s a really specific environment that’s needed to give these cells the kind of shape and behavior that they need to generate functional blood vessels.‘ This research is an exciting example of how scientists are working to uncover new insights into the biology of cells and their role in disease.
- newscientist.com | Our cells can divide in a completely unexpected way
