Protoreaction of Protoplasm

[Vladimir Mat]

Vladimir Matveev. Protoreaction of Protoplasm. Cell. Mol. Biol. 51(8): 715-723, 2005

 

Abstract. My goal is to describe briefly the universal cellular reaction (UCR) to external actions and agents. This general reaction was the main subject of investigation by the scientific school of the outstanding Russian cytologist, Dmitrii Nasonov (1895-1957). The UCR consists of two phases of complex changes in cellular viscosity and turbidity, in the cell's ability to bind vital dyes, in the resting membrane potential, and in cellular resistance to harmful actions. Works from the Nasonov School have shown that these changes are based on structural-functional transformations of many cell proteins that react uniformly to actions of different physical and chemical nature. In general, these complex changes do not depend on cell type, indicating the universal and ancient nature of the UCR as well as its general biological significance. A new interpretation of the mechanism of the universal reaction is proposed in this paper, and a possible role for contractile proteins in the mechanism of the UCR of muscle cells is presented. In addition, the concept of cell hydrophobicity is introduced. Nasonov's School proposed a concept of physiological standardization that allows comparison of data obtained by different investigators and that will also be described here.

 

See full text here:

http://www.actomyosin.spb.ru/protoreaction.htm

[Vladimir Mat]

PROTOREACTION OF PROTOPLASM

 

INTRODUCTION

According to an old Indian parable, well known in Russia, residents of the city of blind people asked several respected citizens to act as experts and to describe to them the nature of an elephant, about which they had heard much. It happened that one of these animals was present near the walls of their city. One expert who examined the elephant’s leg by feeling it came to the conclusion that the elephant was a column. Another expert, upon touching carefully the animal’s tail, stated that the elephant was a rope. The expert who got the tusk was absolutely sure that the elephant resembled a ploughshare. Clearly, the experts failed to agree and continued to dispute all their lives, since each one felt that their case was based firmly on established facts. Thus, each of them was in the right, but all of them were wrong on the whole.

 

Cell physiology and the scientists dealing with study of this discipline somewhat remind us of the meaning of this parable. To some of them, cell physiology focuses on the plasma membrane, to others the nucleus is the key, yet others prefer seeing the key to the mysteries to be found in signaling pathways. The "touching" of individual cell parts continues in contemporary cell biology.

 

Fortunately, the cell itself gives us examples of its reactions that imply the basis for generalizations, for a broad view of cell physiology. One such example is the universal cellular reaction (UCR) to external actions, which was studied in detail by the physiological school of the outstanding Russian scientist, Dmitrii Nasonov (1895-1957), founder of the Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences...

 

This theme is continued in the article: Vladimir Matveev. Protoreaction of Protoplasm. Cell. Mol. Biol. 51(8): 715-723, 2005.

 

See full text here:

http://www.actomyosin.spb.ru/protoreaction.htm

[aguy2]

This was an interesting paper. I have always found interesting that cells act as if they are miniature ocreans that seem motivated to maintain their integrity, and continue to be amazed how far down the chain of complexity 'motivation' or reactions that do a very good job of mimicking motivation go.

 

aguy2

[Vladimir Mat]

Some ideas described in "Protoreaction of Protoplasm" were developed in my recent article, "Native aggregation as a cause of origin of temporary cellular structures needed for all forms of cellular activity, signaling and transformations".

 

Abstract

According to the hypothesis explored in this paper, native aggregation is genetically controlled (programmed) reversible aggregation that occurs when interacting proteins form new temporary structures through highly specific interactions. It is assumed that Anfinsen's dogma may be extended to protein aggregation: composition and amino acid sequence determine not only the secondary and tertiary structure of single protein, but also the structure of protein aggregates (associates). Cell function is considered as a transition between two states (two states model), the resting state and state of activity (this applies to the cell as a whole and to its individual structures). In the resting state, the key proteins are found in the following inactive forms: natively unfolded and globular. When the cell is activated, secondary structures appear in natively unfolded proteins (including unfolded regions in other proteins), and globular proteins begin to melt and their secondary structures become available for interaction with the secondary structures of other proteins. These temporary secondary structures provide a means for highly specific interactions between proteins. As a result, native aggregation creates temporary structures necessary for cell activity."One of the principal objects of theoretical research in any department of knowledge is to find the point of view from which the subject appears in its greatest simplicity."Josiah Willard Gibbs (1839-1903).

 

Full text: http://vladimirmatveev.ru

[jimmydasaint]

According to Ling’s theory, the physical basis for life is an ion-water-protein complex – the smallest structural unit that has the capability for protoreaction:

 

K+-H2O-PROTEINunf-ATP <–––> PROTEINf + H2O + ADP + Pi + K+,

 

where PROTEINunf represents unfolded protein molecules, whose polypeptide chains are accessible to the solvent water; where K +-, H2O-, ATP – represent protein-bound potassium ions, water, and ATP; and PROTEINf – the folded protein molecule, in which a significant part of the polypeptide chain becomes inaccessible to water (see Fig. 44 in reference 15 for further details).

 

The left part of this equation refers to a cell in the resting state, and the right part to the state of activity or excitation. According to the AIH, it is such local changes that occur during action potentials, muscle contractions, and other forms of cellular activity. Transitions from the resting to the active are accompanied by the release of free energy necessary to perform biological work (15).

Link to paper

 

Are you saying here that in the resting state some polypeptides or fractions of polypepties remain unfolded with hydrophilic amino acids facing towards the solvent water and then, after activation, flipping into a folded tertiary structure with hydrophilic residues on the inside?

 

Moreover, have you also considered that, during cell resistance to external 'pressures', the cells may also be exhibiting a tensegrity reaction by changing gene expression in a feedback response?

 

My laboratory is interested in the question of how microenvironmental cues, including extracellular matrix (ECM) and mechanical forces, regulate cellular signal transduction and thereby control tissue morphogenesis. Once we uncover fundamental biological design principles, we design and engineer new materials and devices that mimic these complex functionalities for medical and non-medical applications. Our work includes analysis of integrin signaling, cytoskeletal organization, cellular mechanics, mechanotransduction, as well as development of new approaches to tissue engineering and angiogenesis inhibition. Our work has revealed that given the same set of chemical inputs, ECM and mechanical deformation of cells (shape changes) can regulate their functional output by switching cells between gene programs for growth, differentation, apoptosis, contractility, and motility. By combining methods of molecular cell biology with engineering and computational approaches, we have discovered that this mechanism involves activation of integrin signaling pathways as well as mechanical stress-induced changes in cell, cytoskeletal, and nuclear structure. We are currently carrying out studies using capillary endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts and embryonic lung rudiments to more precisely map out the series of molecular and biophysical events that mediate these effects. We also are using massively-parallel, genome-wide gene profiling techniques and developing new bioinformatics tools to understand how these structural networks control cellular information processing. Results of these studies should have widespread implications for control of tissue physiology and may facilitate the development of new therapeutic modalities for diseases, such as hypertension and cancer, as well as novel approaches for tissue engineering.

Professor Ingber Tensegrity

Edited July 27, 2010 by jimmydasaint

[pioneer]

The easiest way to integrate the cytoplasm is through the water. During cell cycles the membrane potential changes, which implies the potential in the water also changes. The water contacts all the materials in the cell, changing the surface potential seen by all the cellular configurations, all at the same time. This new equilibrium will involve conformational and structural changes that are integrated throughout the protein grid.

 

Let us look at a basic primitive equilibrium change, connected to the duplication of DNA or RNA. When we double the genetic material, we also double the amount of negative change within a major cellular structure; via the extra phosphate. This structural negative will impact the water. All this extra negative charge would be easier to accommodate, if the inside of the cell was less negative. The reversal of the cation pumps, which occurs during this time, lowers the inside negative charge, making the extra negative charge of the DNA easier to accommodate. The membrane resaturates allowing the membrane potential to rise as the cation pump reversal lowers. This now now means too much negative. Extra negative charge leaves or the cells separates within the inside of each daughter cell having a different aqueous equilibrium, more conducive to equilibrium unpacking and activity.

Edited July 27, 2010 by pioneer

[jimmydasaint]

pioneer, can you please provide evidence for what you are saying, in the form of links to papers. Thank you.

[Vladimir Mat]

Main principles of Ling’s physical theory of the living cell:

http://www.bioparadigma.spb.ru/files/Main.principles.of.Ling's.physical.theory.of.the.living.cell.pdf