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  

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:12/3/2009)...t dwellers must be included in the design of the u...d a humanitarian crisis, according to a scientist ... Nature , Dr Simon Lewis argues that at least 50% ...nhagen, known as REDD (Reducing Emissions from Def...est dwellers directly, and their property rights a...
(Date:12/3/2009)...0-year record low in Antarctic snowmelt that occur...ue to concurrent strong positive phases for two ma...ation) and SAM (Southern Hemisphere Annular Mode),...or of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences at The City Col...also on the doctoral faculty at the CUNY Graduate ...
(Date:12/2/2009)...LADELPHIA Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumpti...predicts the patient,s future risk of death, accor...tudy show a similar effect among those who continu...cancer survivors are counseled to quit smoking; de...cent continued to smoke even after their cancer di...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Forest deal at Copenhagen must avoid creating 'carbon refugees' 2CCNY professor foresees rising Antarctic snowmelt 2Head and neck cancer survivors who use alcohol and cigarettes have increased death risk 2Pittsburgh G 2O Explained 3A Watch Penn State Experts on YouTube 56028 1Pittsburgh G 2O Explained 3A Watch Penn State Experts on YouTube 56028 2SHPS Wins Nine Healthcare Communication Awards in the 2009 Health Information Awards Program 56025 1SHPS Wins Nine Healthcare Communication Awards in the 2009 Health Information Awards Program 56025 2A Mediterranean Approach to Flavorful Living 56023 1A Mediterranean Approach to Flavorful Living 56023 2A Mediterranean Approach to Flavorful Living 56023 3
...ggest and most aggressive male claims the alpha ma...ut a new study from the University of Minnesota su...ore mild-mannered males can also use political beh...as gleaned from 10 years of observing dominant mal...oking at behaviors they used to compete for alpha ...
... You don,t have to get wet, or seasick, to find ou...wide. Just tune in through your computer. , This ...arth available to computers everywhere was launc...rancisco. Scientists at UC Santa Barbara are invol...te at UCSB played a key role in providing scientif...
...astating lodgepole pine stands across the West mig...f flakes containing a natural substance used in he...owding host trees, according to a team of scientis...ed study appear in the February issue of Forest E... California and Idaho, and showed how applications...
Other Biology News:Small male chimps use politics, rather than aggression, to lead the pack, U of Minnesota study says 2New version of Google Earth features California's marine protected areas 2Landscape-scale treatment promising for slowing beetle spread 2
(Date:12/2/2009)... , TUSTIN, Calif., Dec. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCa...PHM ) today reported completion of patient enrollm...Cotara® in patients with relapsed glioblastom...ncer. Cotara is a targeted monoclonal antibody li...ial new treatment for GBM. Cotara specifically ta...
(Date:12/2/2009)... , JERUSALEM, Israel, December 2 /PRN...ity study evaluating the preclinical (animal study...ich combines technology from Weill,Cornell Medical...ential to,treat inherited anemias such as Cooley,s...ries of technologies to expand, ex vivo,populatio...
(Date:12/2/2009)... , SHANGHAI, Dec. 2 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- ...rkets are in turmoil and uncertainty is part of ma...e pharma industry has been,relatively immune to th...a,vacation. , During the midst of the dif...ohnson & Johnson inaugurated an R&D center...
(Date:12/1/2009)... , NEW YORK, Dec. 1 Report...port is available in its catalogue: ,, Chromi...rtlinker.com/p0164494/Chromium---Global-Market-Tre...rimarily influenced by stainless steel, while grow... is also important for growth of chromium metal. E...
Breaking Biology Technology:Peregrine Completes Patient Enrollment in Cotara(R) Dose Confirmation and Dosimetry Brain Cancer Trial 2Peregrine Completes Patient Enrollment in Cotara(R) Dose Confirmation and Dosimetry Brain Cancer Trial 3Peregrine Completes Patient Enrollment in Cotara(R) Dose Confirmation and Dosimetry Brain Cancer Trial 4Peregrine Completes Patient Enrollment in Cotara(R) Dose Confirmation and Dosimetry Brain Cancer Trial 5Gamida Cell Announces Feasibility Study With Weill Cornell Medical College 2Gamida Cell Announces Feasibility Study With Weill Cornell Medical College 3Pharma and Biotech Leaders to Converge in China at Asia Pharma R&D Leaders 2010 Summit 2Pharma and Biotech Leaders to Converge in China at Asia Pharma R&D Leaders 2010 Summit 3Reportlinker Adds Chromium - Global Market Trends 2Reportlinker Adds Chromium - Global Market Trends 3Reportlinker Adds Chromium - Global Market Trends 4Reportlinker Adds Chromium - Global Market Trends 5Reportlinker Adds Chromium - Global Market Trends 6Reportlinker Adds Chromium - Global Market Trends 7Reportlinker Adds Chromium - Global Market Trends 8Reportlinker Adds Chromium - Global Market Trends 9
...er,therapeutics company, announced today that Timo...Chief Scientific Officer., "We are thrilled that ... A. Olson, President and CEO at Mersana. "His exte...rience with polymer-based drug systems are an,idea...impact he will have,on our newest programs, his co...
...America, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CBAI), the umbi...http://www.cordblood-america.com ) focused on,brin...milies nationwide and,internationally, today annou... by the leading biotechnology publication in Greec...hip in 2006 named a.bourkas Co.,United., "Stem ce...
...,Inc. (eRT), (Nasdaq: ERES ), a leading provider ...on and interpretation services including,expert co...and services,(electronic data capture and electron... today that it will release its 2007 fourth quarte...n Tuesday, February 26,2008 after the market close...
Other Biology Technology:Mersana Therapeutics, Inc. Appoints Chief Scientific Officer, Timothy B. Lowinger, Ph.D. 2Cord Blood America CEO Matthew Schissler Interviewed by BIONOVA, Greece's Leading Biotech Magazine 2eResearchTechnology, Inc. to Announce 2007 Fourth Quarter Results on February 26, 2008 2
Gey's Balanced Salt Solution (GBSS) from Sigma-Aldrich
...difications to the original formulas in efforts to... play an important role in tissue,culture. A salt ...osmotic balance in the medium and to provide the c...s valuable today as when it was first developed a ...
Ellman's Reagent from Cayman Chemical
Synergy HT Multi-Detection Microplate Reader from BioTek Instruments
Biology Products: