Navigation Links
Simple model cell is key to understanding cell complexity
Date:5/15/2008

A team of Penn State researchers has developed a simple artificial cell with which to investigate the organization and function of two of the most basic cell components: the cell membrane and the cytoplasm--the gelatinous fluid that surrounds the structures in living cells. The work could lead to the creation of new drugs that take advantage of properties of cell organization to prevent the development of diseases. The team's findings will be published later this month (late May 2008) in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

"Many scientists are trying to understand cells by turning off genes, one at a time, and are observing the effects on cell function, but we're doing the opposite," said Associate Professor of Chemistry Christine D. Keating, who led the research. "We're starting from scratch, adding in components to find out what is needed to simulate the most basic cell functions. Our goal is to find out how much complexity can be observed in very simple collections of molecules."

Building on previous work that was published in the 16 January 2008 issue of Journal of the American Chemical Society, Keating and her colleagues built a model cell using as the cytoplasm a solution of two different polymers: polyethyleneglycol (PEG) and dextran. The researchers encapsulated this polymer solution inside a cell membrane and, because the two polymers do not mix, one of the phases surrounded the other like the white of an egg around a yolk. The team then exposed the cell to a concentrated solution of sugar. Through a process known as osmosis--in which water diffuses across a cell membrane from a region of higher water concentration to a region of lower water concentration--water traveled from the relatively diluted polymer solution inside the cell to the more concentrated sugar solution outside the cell. As a result, the volume of the polymer solution inside the membrane was reduced.

With a cell membrane that was now
'/>"/>

Contact: Barbara K. Kennedy
science@psu.edu
814-863-4682
Penn State
Source:Eurekalert  

3

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Salt-tolerant gene found in simple plant nothing to sneeze at
2. Simple screening questionnaire for kidney disease outperforms current clinical practice guidelines
3. Simple recipe turns human skin cells into embryonic stem cell-like cells
4. Simple reason helps males evolve more quickly
5. Researchers develop simple method to create natural drug products
6. Gene regulation in humans is closer than expected to simple organisms
7. Safe water: simpler method for analyzing radium in water samples cuts testing time
8. Model successfully predicts large river system fish diversity
9. Climate modelers see modern echo in 30s Dust Bowl
10. A model photochemical compass for bird navigation
11. In computer models and observations, researchers see potential for significant red tide season
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Related Image:
Simple model cell is key to understanding cell complexity
Simple model cell is key to understanding cell complexity
(Date:7/23/2008)...Ohio Wealthy nations willing to collectively spen...sion of roughly half a billion metric tons of carb...earch suggests. , It would take about that much...forestation in the world, one of the top contribut...ate. , If adopted, this type of program could ha...
(Date:7/23/2008)...Ohio A recent study shows that popular fish oil s...f small, acute wounds in human skin. But whether t...y suspected, remains a mystery. , The omega-3 fa... to benefit cardiovascular health and other diseas...r anti-inflammatory properties. But insufficient i...
(Date:7/23/2008)...of scientists who set out to study sex pheromones ...mones also controls a stage in the worms, life cyc..., published in Nature online on July 23, represe...ave been linked through so-called small molecules....oteins as the major players in an organism,s biolo...
(Date:7/23/2008)... change will carry a price tag of billions of doll... of reports from the University of Maryland,s Cent...The researchers conclude that the costs have alrea...ombining existing data with new analysis, the eigh... climate change on Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Illi...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Paying to save tropical forests could be a way to reduce global carbon emissions 2Paying to save tropical forests could be a way to reduce global carbon emissions 3Paying to save tropical forests could be a way to reduce global carbon emissions 4Scientists suspect omega-3 fatty acids could slow acute wound healing 2Scientists suspect omega-3 fatty acids could slow acute wound healing 3Scientists suspect omega-3 fatty acids could slow acute wound healing 4Sex and lifespan linked in worms 2Costs of climate change, state-by-state: Billions, says UMD 2Costs of climate change, state-by-state: Billions, says UMD 3Costs of climate change, state-by-state: Billions, says UMD 4SURGERYFINDIT COM and Convera 28R 29 Launch Vertical Search Site for Surgeons 5781 1SURGERYFINDIT COM and Convera 28R 29 Launch Vertical Search Site for Surgeons 5781 2Risk Factors for Eating Disorders Vary by Gender 20982 1Risk Factors for Eating Disorders Vary by Gender 20982 2Increased incidence of melanoma found in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with methotrexate 20977 1Increased incidence of melanoma found in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with methotrexate 20977 2Increased incidence of melanoma found in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with methotrexate 20977 3China Sky One Medical Inc Receives SFDA Approval for Five Patches 20972 1China Sky One Medical Inc Receives SFDA Approval for Five Patches 20972 2China Sky One Medical Inc Receives SFDA Approval for Five Patches 20972 3
...n cancer very resistant to treatment. Researchers ...titute and the University of South Florida are tes...ne system to aid in the fight against melanoma tum... it is the first time that electroporation is bein...udy in humans," said Richard Heller, PhD, USF prof...
...n have found a way to modify a plastic to anchor m...ssel growth or other biological processes. , In t...hers identified a piece of protein from among a bi...at of attaching to polypyrrole, a synthetic polyme...n promise in biomedical applications. When the pro...
...er T (NKT) cells, the immune system,s sentinels, p...for invaders or signs of tissue damage and demonst...cells. , The new studies show that NKT cells crawl...low. They halt only when they receive a chemical s...ding microbes, other invaders or damaged tissue. ,...
...tates stem from bat bites, far more people are tre...the list of most often reported rabid mammal. Cont... the spatial dynamics of the disease - where new o...d. In a new study reported in the freely-available...apply a mathematical model to predict the likely s...
Other Biology News:Researchers test new therapy for advanced melanoma 2Engineers improve plastic's potential for use in implants by linking it to biological material 2Engineers improve plastic's potential for use in implants by linking it to biological material 3Natural Killers Could Lead to New Hepatitis Treatments 2Natural Killers Could Lead to New Hepatitis Treatments 3Natural Killers Could Lead to New Hepatitis Treatments 4Rabies spread speeds up 2
(Date:7/24/2008)...re/ -- The Global Probiotics Council,(GPC), a comm...ult Honsha,Co., Ltd., announced the two awardees w...rant for Probiotics Research (YIGPRO) today. The p...who will continue to contribute to,the advancement...United,States., Ajay S. Gulati, MD, an Assistant ...
(Date:7/24/2008)... Important Advance in Radiofrequency ...if., July 24 /- PEAK Surgical, Inc., ...tissue dissection system,based on a proprietary te...rug Administration has granted the company 510(k) ... use in general surgery. The PEAK Surgery System,c...
(Date:7/24/2008)...ire/ -- Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,a privately-...nced that it,has launched ceftazidime for injectio...m antibiotic. Sagent will offer ceftazidime in 1,a...ge vials. According to,IMS data, 2007 sales of inj...ximately $45.7 million., "Sagent is proud to be p...
(Date:7/24/2008)...swire-FirstCall/ -- United,Therapeutics Corporatio...lease its 2008 second quarter financial results be...., United Therapeutics will host a half-hour tele.... Eastern Time. The teleconference is accessible,b...rs dialing,1-706-679-8129. A rebroadcast of the te...
Breaking Biology Technology:Global Probiotics Council Announces First Awardees for New Young Investigator Grant for Probiotics Research 2Global Probiotics Council Announces First Awardees for New Young Investigator Grant for Probiotics Research 3Global Probiotics Council Announces First Awardees for New Young Investigator Grant for Probiotics Research 4PEAK Surgical Receives 510(k) Clearance to Market PEAK(R) Surgery System for Use in General Surgery 2PEAK Surgical Receives 510(k) Clearance to Market PEAK(R) Surgery System for Use in General Surgery 3PEAK Surgical Receives 510(k) Clearance to Market PEAK(R) Surgery System for Use in General Surgery 4Sagent Pharmaceuticals Launches Ceftazidime for Injection, USP 2
... Kevin Thornton, PhD, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., ...oduction , In chromatographic separatio... used both for identification and to program ...ction collection. Therefore, the ability to obtain...ns is essential. In order to achieve reproducible ...
... Chris Moran, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., 2000 Alf... , Introduction , Fast ... explore the structure , and function of ... purification , strategies use experiment... stable and have chromatographic properties d...
... Introduction , Flavanone 3b-hydroxy...ygenase, , catalyzes the 3b-hydroxylation o... which are intermediates in the biosynthesis of fl...nd anthocyanidins in plants. To understand the com...of the hydroxylase, and especially its interaction...
...of Murine IgG1 Using UNOsphere S and CHT ,...ev A , , Henry Lai, PhD, and Samuel... 2000 Alfred Nobel Drive, Hercules, CA 94547 U... Immunoglobulins (IgGs) from a variety of sources...nal process composed of a protein A chromatography...
Other Biology Technology:Separation Reproducibility With the BioLogic Chromatography Systems 2Separation Reproducibility With the BioLogic Chromatography Systems 3Rapid Chromatography Optimization by pH Scouting Using the New BioLogic Maximizer Valve System, Rev A 2Rapid Chromatography Optimization by pH Scouting Using the New BioLogic Maximizer Valve System, Rev A 3Rapid Chromatography Optimization by pH Scouting Using the New BioLogic Maximizer Valve System, Rev A 4Purification of Recombinant Flavonone 3beta-Hydroxylase Using Bio-Scale CHT5-1 Hydroxyapatite Column 2Purification of Murine IgG1 Using UNOsphere S and CHT , Ceramic Hydroxyapatite Chromatography, Rev A 2Purification of Murine IgG1 Using UNOsphere S and CHT , Ceramic Hydroxyapatite Chromatography, Rev A 3Purification of Murine IgG1 Using UNOsphere S and CHT , Ceramic Hydroxyapatite Chromatography, Rev A 4
Collected from animals of U.S. origin.Collected from animals of U.S. origin. *Can be used in cell growth studies and immunoassays. *Sterility tested, * Mycoplasma tested upon request, *Endoto
Fetal Calf Serum Replacement (Bistec) serum
Solid phase reagent for Virus isolation and purification; Easy & unique water insoluble Elastomeric Polyelectrolyte; Compatible with detergents and chaotropes; Engineered to capture & recover non-env
Non-Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Sampler Kit 10 mu g each
Biology Products: