Beginnings

Kumar, Vinit

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/114253 Copy

Description

Title

Beginnings

Author(s)

Kumar, Vinit

Issue Date

2022

Keyword(s)

• Mechanical Science
• Engineering

Abstract

Membrane tubules are microscopic elongations of the outer wall of living cells. They allow cells to carry out a myriad of functions including moving to the correct place during development, communicating with their neighbors, and exploring their environments. Their formation is supported by a complex interaction of cellular machinery directing the location, length, and function of the protrusions. Pictured here are membrane tubules formed on the surfaced of giant unilaminar vesicles. Contrary to their name, these tiny structures are about the size of red blood cells and are designed to mimic the membranes of living cells. The vesicles in this image have been created with a solution of sucrose (table sugar) inside. When placed in a solution of glucose (a simple sugar) at a similar concentration, tubules emerge as the sugars interact to exert unequal forces on the membrane. This is a rare example of how differences in the inner and outer environment can cause tubule formation without the aid of additional cellular machinery. It may hold the clues for how now ubiquitous tubules may have first formed in our early cell ancestors, before the evolution of the complex molecular tools used by modern cells.

Type of Resource

• Text
• Image

Language

eng

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/114253

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2022 Vinit Kumar

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