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Nature Reviews. Molecular Cell Biology Sep 2011Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology celebrated its 10-year anniversary during this past year with a series of specially commissioned articles. To complement this, here... (Review)
Review
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology celebrated its 10-year anniversary during this past year with a series of specially commissioned articles. To complement this, here we have asked researchers from across the field for their insights into how molecular cell biology research has evolved during this past decade, the key concepts that have emerged and the most promising interfaces that have developed. Their comments highlight the broad impact that particular advances have had, some of the basic understanding that we still require, and the collaborative approaches that will be essential for driving the field forward.
Topics: Cell Biology; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Molecular Biology
PubMed: 21941276
DOI: 10.1038/nrm3187 -
Genes & Development Dec 2019The idea that liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) may be a general mechanism by which molecules in the complex cellular milieu may self-organize has generated much... (Review)
Review
The idea that liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) may be a general mechanism by which molecules in the complex cellular milieu may self-organize has generated much excitement and fervor in the cell biology community. While this concept is not new, its rise to preeminence has resulted in renewed interest in the mechanisms that shape and drive diverse cellular self-assembly processes from gene expression to cell division to stress responses. In vitro biochemical data have been instrumental in deriving some of the fundamental principles and molecular grammar by which biological molecules may phase separate, and the molecular basis of these interactions. Definitive evidence is lacking as to whether the same principles apply in the physiological environment inside living cells. In this Perspective, we analyze the evidence supporting phase separation in vivo across multiple cellular processes. We find that the evidence for in vivo LLPS is often phenomenological and inadequate to discriminate between phase separation and other possible mechanisms. Moreover, the causal relationship and functional consequences of LLPS in vivo are even more elusive. We underscore the importance of performing quantitative measurements on proteins in their endogenous state and physiological abundance, as well as make recommendations for experiments that may yield more conclusive results.
Topics: Cell Biology; Cell Physiological Phenomena; Cytological Techniques; Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching; Gene Expression Regulation; Liquid-Liquid Extraction; Transcription Factors
PubMed: 31594803
DOI: 10.1101/gad.331520.119 -
The Journal of Cell Biology Jun 2020P values and error bars help readers infer whether a reported difference would likely recur, with the sample size n used for statistical tests representing biological...
P values and error bars help readers infer whether a reported difference would likely recur, with the sample size n used for statistical tests representing biological replicates, independent measurements of the population from separate experiments. We provide examples and practical tutorials for creating figures that communicate both the cell-level variability and the experimental reproducibility.
Topics: Biostatistics; Cell Biology; Models, Statistical; Reproducibility of Results; Sample Size
PubMed: 32346721
DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202001064 -
Methods in Cell Biology 2019
Topics: Animals; CRISPR-Cas Systems; Cell Biology; Cytological Techniques; Genome; Genomics; Germ Cells
PubMed: 30948034
DOI: 10.1016/S0091-679X(19)30046-9 -
Molecular Microbiology Mar 2020The intracellular pathogen concept classifies pathogenic microbes on the basis of their site of replication and dependence on host cells. This concept played a... (Review)
Review
The intracellular pathogen concept classifies pathogenic microbes on the basis of their site of replication and dependence on host cells. This concept played a fundamental role in establishing the field of cellular microbiology, founded in part by Dr. Pascale Cossart, whose seminal contributions are honored in this issue of Molecular Microbiology. The recognition that microbes can access and replicate in privileged compartments within host cells has led to many new and fruitful lines of investigation into the biology of the cell and mechanisms of cell-mediated immunity. However, like any scientific concept, the intracellular pathogen concept can become a dogma that constrains thinking and oversimplifies complex and dynamic host-pathogen interactions. Growing evidence has blurred the distinction between "intracellular" and "extracellular" pathogens and demonstrated that many pathogens can exist both within and outside of cells. Although the intracellular pathogen concept remains useful, it should not be viewed as a rigid classification of pathogenic microbes, which exhibit remarkable variation and complexity in their behavior in the host.
Topics: Bacteria; Cell Biology; Cellular Microenvironment; Cytological Techniques; Cytoplasm; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans
PubMed: 31762116
DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14421 -
The Journal of Cell Biology Sep 2014Systems cell biology melds high-throughput experimentation with quantitative analysis and modeling to understand many critical processes that contribute to cellular... (Review)
Review
Systems cell biology melds high-throughput experimentation with quantitative analysis and modeling to understand many critical processes that contribute to cellular organization and dynamics. Recently, there have been several advances in technology and in the application of modeling approaches that enable the exploration of the dynamic properties of cells. Merging technology and computation offers an opportunity to objectively address unsolved cellular mechanisms, and has revealed emergent properties and helped to gain a more comprehensive and fundamental understanding of cell biology.
Topics: Biomedical Research; Cell Biology; Cytological Techniques; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Models, Biological; Proteomics; Research Design; Systems Biology
PubMed: 25225336
DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201405027 -
Acta Cytologica 2011
Topics: Cell Biology; Cytodiagnosis; Cytological Techniques; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Humans; Medical Laboratory Personnel; Patient Care; Workforce
PubMed: 21525732
DOI: 10.1159/000324733 -
Current Biology : CB Jan 2018Interview with Martin Raff, Emeritus Professor of Cell Biology and Affiliated Member of the MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology at University College London, by...
Interview with Martin Raff, Emeritus Professor of Cell Biology and Affiliated Member of the MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology at University College London, by Jordan Raff, group leader at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford.
Topics: Allergy and Immunology; Boston; Cell Biology; Developmental Biology; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; London; Neurobiology; Quebec
PubMed: 29412897
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.12.001 -
Cell Jan 2014
Topics: Cell Biology; Editorial Policies; History, 20th Century; Periodicals as Topic
PubMed: 24439364
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2013.12.032 -
Current Biology : CB Sep 2017Interview with Maya Schuldiner, who studies the cell biology of organelles at the Weizmann Institute in Israel.
Interview with Maya Schuldiner, who studies the cell biology of organelles at the Weizmann Institute in Israel.
Topics: Animals; Cell Biology; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Israel; Yeasts
PubMed: 29413400
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.07.066