Altered Cell Division Concepts Likely Inaccurate
In a groundbreaking study published in the journal Science, researchers have challenged the long-held belief that during mitosis, a parent cell becomes spherical. The study, co-led by Holly Lovegrove and Shane Herbert, reveals that the shape of the parent cell can determine whether its division will be symmetrical or asymmetrical.
Previously, scientists had mainly associated asymmetric cell division with specialized cells called stem cells. However, this new research suggests that the shape of the cell before it divides can fundamentally direct whether a cell rounds and if its daughters are symmetric or asymmetric both in size and function.
The researchers manipulated the size of human parent cells via micropatterning. They found that longer and thinner cells don't "round-up," and as a result, divide asymmetrically. On the other hand, shorter and wider cells are more likely to become spherical and split into two similar daughter cells.
Using transparent zebrafish embryos, the team was able to study cell division inside a living organism. They observed blood vessel formation in these embryos, where the lead cell undergoing mitosis didn't become spherical. This observation further supports the idea that the shape of the parent cell can influence its division.
The new findings hold important implications for understanding cell division in diseases such as cancer. Asymmetric divisions play an important role in the creation of different tissues and organs. In cancer, asymmetric division could lead to different cell behaviours potentially associated with cancer progression.
The study also suggests that scientists might one day be able to generate cells with different functions by controlling the shape of their parent cells. This could open up new possibilities for medical research and treatment.
The research was conducted by Dr. Cristina Bertolini and her team. Their work offers exciting new aspects of how tissues grow and could pave the way for further advancements in our understanding of cell division and its role in health and disease.
In real living organisms, cell division is not as simple as generating a uniform spherical shape. This study takes us one step closer to understanding the complex processes that govern cell division and the growth of tissues.
