Biochemical controls: cell division atomic level (Introduction)

by David Turell , Monday, August 14, 2023, 17:40 (465 days ago) @ David Turell

Latest technique:

https://www.sciencealert.com/we-just-got-an-unprecedented-look-at-the-details-of-cell-d...

"The innovative tweak will allow scientists to directly observe molecular behavior over a much longer period, opening a window onto pivotal biological processes like cell division.

"'The living cell is a busy place with proteins bustling here and there," explains University of Michigan biomedical engineer Guangjie Cui. "Our superresolution is very attractive for viewing these dynamic activities." (my bold)

"Superresolution is a process for observing incredibly small biological structures. It uses a series of snapshots taken of constellations of fluorescing molecules that highlight select areas of the targeted tissue, eliminating the blurring effect of a flood of diffracted light.

***

"The resulting system allows a staggering 250 hours of continued observations at a resolution of just 100 atoms.

"Cui and colleagues then examined the entire process of cellular division with their new PINE nanoscopy, revealing a never-before-seen behavior of actin molecules, down to the individual molecule level.

"Actin, the major component of a cell's cytoskeleton, provides cells with structural support and helps facilitate movement within a cell. So these branching filament shaped molecules play a massive role in dividing a cell before pulling it apart into two daughter cells.

***

"Observing 904 actin filaments during the cell division process, Cui and his team could see how individual molecules behaved with each other. They found that when actin molecules are less bound to one another they will expand in search of more links. As each actin reaches its neighbors, it draws other actin molecules close, increasing its network further.

"The researchers saw how these small scale movements translated across a larger scale cellular view. Unexpectedly, when actin expands the cell at large actually contracts, whereas it expands when actin contracts. This seems contradictory so the researchers are keen to explore how this opposing motion is occurring."

Comment: the Actin molecules act as if they had minds of their own, but something must control them but yet discovered. (note my bold) This complexity demonstrates it must have been designed.