Abstract
Different cell lineages growing in microgravity undergo a spontaneous transition leading to the emergence of two distinct phenotypes. By returning these populations in a normal gravitational field, the two phenotypes collapse, recovering their original configuration. In this review, we hypothesize that, once the gravitational constraint is removed, the system freely explores its phenotypic space, while, when in a gravitational field, cells are “constrained” to adopt only one favored configuration. We suggest that the genome allows for a wide range of “possibilities” but it is unable per se to choose among them: the emergence of a specific phenotype is enabled by physical constraints that drive the system toward a preferred solution. These findings may help in understanding how cells and tissues behave in both development and cancer.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 1700138 |
| Journal | BioEssays |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 1 2018 |
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Keywords
- biological organization principles
- cell fate transition
- differentiation
- dissipative systems
- microgravity
- physical constraints
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
Cite this
Gravity Constraints Drive Biological Systems Toward Specific Organization Patterns : Commitment of cell specification is constrained by physical cues. / Bizzarri, Mariano; Masiello, Maria Grazia; Giuliani, Alessandro; Cucina, Alessandra.
In: BioEssays, Vol. 40, No. 1, 1700138, 01.01.2018.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Gravity Constraints Drive Biological Systems Toward Specific Organization Patterns
T2 - Commitment of cell specification is constrained by physical cues
AU - Bizzarri, Mariano
AU - Masiello, Maria Grazia
AU - Giuliani, Alessandro
AU - Cucina, Alessandra
PY - 2018/1/1
Y1 - 2018/1/1
N2 - Different cell lineages growing in microgravity undergo a spontaneous transition leading to the emergence of two distinct phenotypes. By returning these populations in a normal gravitational field, the two phenotypes collapse, recovering their original configuration. In this review, we hypothesize that, once the gravitational constraint is removed, the system freely explores its phenotypic space, while, when in a gravitational field, cells are “constrained” to adopt only one favored configuration. We suggest that the genome allows for a wide range of “possibilities” but it is unable per se to choose among them: the emergence of a specific phenotype is enabled by physical constraints that drive the system toward a preferred solution. These findings may help in understanding how cells and tissues behave in both development and cancer.
AB - Different cell lineages growing in microgravity undergo a spontaneous transition leading to the emergence of two distinct phenotypes. By returning these populations in a normal gravitational field, the two phenotypes collapse, recovering their original configuration. In this review, we hypothesize that, once the gravitational constraint is removed, the system freely explores its phenotypic space, while, when in a gravitational field, cells are “constrained” to adopt only one favored configuration. We suggest that the genome allows for a wide range of “possibilities” but it is unable per se to choose among them: the emergence of a specific phenotype is enabled by physical constraints that drive the system toward a preferred solution. These findings may help in understanding how cells and tissues behave in both development and cancer.
KW - biological organization principles
KW - cell fate transition
KW - differentiation
KW - dissipative systems
KW - microgravity
KW - physical constraints
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85033695763&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85033695763&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/bies.201700138
DO - 10.1002/bies.201700138
M3 - Article
C2 - 29134681
AN - SCOPUS:85033695763
VL - 40
JO - BioEssays
JF - BioEssays
SN - 0265-9247
IS - 1
M1 - 1700138
ER -