The regulatory role of silicon in cell division

Several reports have suggested that silicon has an activating effect on cell proliferation. In order to test this hypothesis, both peripheral human lymphocytes and LDV/7 lymphoblast cells were cultured in the presence of a compound composed of monomethylsilanetriol (silanol), a soluble organic form of silicon, and serine. This molecule stimulates peripheral lymphocyte proliferation at an optimal concentration of 10 mg of silicon per liter of culture medium; in identical conditions, it inhibits the growth of lymphoblasto?d cells (p less than 0.001). Silanol-serine also inhibits the growth of PHA stimulated lymphocytes. The effect of silicon on cell growth has a negative correlation (p less than 0.001) with the mitotic activity of cultured cells: the more intense the latter, the stronger is the inhibitory effect of silanol-serine. This would suggest a regulatory role of this compound on the cell cycle.     

A mathematical analysis of elongation and constriction in cell division

An equation for the rate of elongation of a dividing egg is integrated and generalized. The rates of elongation and constriction of a number of eggs under various conditions are analyzed and compared with the theoretical predictions. The theory accounts rather well for a large body of data on elongation and constriction. The general shapes of the elongation and constriction curves are predicted and the orders of magnitude of the parameters are satisfactory. One of the parameters for the elongation curves is related theoretically to the parameter of the constriction curves, and the correct order of magnitude is obtained if one parameter is predicted from the other.     

The role of cAMP in controlling yeast cell division

The studies on the cAMP-requiring mutants and their suppressors in the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, revealed that cAMP-dependent protein phosphorylation is involved in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, in conjugation, and in the post-meiotic stage of sporulation, and that inhibition of cAMP-dependent protein phosphorylation is required to induce meiotic division.     

The role of cell membrane in the regulation of cell division and malignant transformation

An earlier model in which uptake of essential nutrients for which the cell is auxotrophic, regulates cell division, is discussed in the light of new experimental findings, specifically the purification of a new type of transport-inhibitory protein from rat liver and the properties of the protein. The possible role of such proteins in malignant transformation is also discussed.     

Stem cell self-renewal: The role of asymmetric division

Asymmetric division occurs widely in different groups of organisms from single-celled to insects, mammals, and plants. The operation of asymmetrical division may differ widely in different organisms. In multicellular organisms, asymmetrical division is one of the essential features of stem cell biology. The data obtained assume one of the main biological functions of asymmetrical division to be maintenance of cell viability, beginning with stem cells. Cells continuously accumulate toxic inclusions, which are formed by damaged proteins which cannot be degraded by proteasomes. As a result of asymmetric division, these inclusions segregate into one of the daughter cells providing the ability of long-lived proliferation to another cell.     

Poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis and cell division

A clone of HeLa cells has been selected in the presence of 5-methylnicotinamide. In the presence of 10 mM 5-methylnicotinamide the resistant cells grow at 70% of the rate of the same cell culture without 5-methylnicotinamide. 10 mM 5-methylnicotinamide completely inhibits the growth of normal HeLa cells. Both cell types in the absence of 5-methylnicotinamide have the same generation time. Poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) synthesis is less sensitive to 5-methylnicotinamide in nuclei isolated from the resistant cells than in nuclei from sensitive cells.     

A mathematical model for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and T cell interaction

In this paper, we propose and analyse a mathematical model for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), a cancer of the blood. We model the interaction between naive T cells, effector T cells, and CML cancer cells in the body, using a system of ordinary differential equations which gives rates of change of the three cell populations. One of the difficulties in modeling CML is the scarcity of experimental data which can be used to estimate parameters values. To compensate for the resulting uncertainties, we use Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) on large ranges of possible parameter values in our analysis. A major goal of this work is the determination of parameters which play a critical role in remission or clearance of the cancer in the model. Our analysis examines 12 parameters, and identifies two of these, the growth and death rates of CML, as critical to the outcome of the system. Our results indicate that the most promising research avenues for treatments of CML should be those that affect these two significant parameters (CML growth and death rates), while altering the other parameters should have little effect on the outcome.     

Partial synchronization of cell division in root meristem induced by 5-aminouracil

5-aminouracil induces a partial synchronization of mitoses in barley, onion and garlic root tips. The highest degree of synchronization has been achieved in garlic where the mitotic index reached the value of about 36%, while in onion and barley the values equalled about 20%. The concentration causing the maximal synchronization in barley (400–750 ppm) was many times higher than in garlic (62.5 ppm) and onion (100 ppm). The occurrence of micronuclei was evaluated in garlic, under the conditions when synchronization was maximal. It was increased nearly tenfold as compared with the control.     

Decrease in the spontaneous frequency level of sister chromatid exchanges in cell division in culture

The spontaneous level of sister chromatide exchanges (SCE) registered in human lymphocytes is shown to depend on the moment of BUdR introduction and the time of fixation. In early periods of BUdR introduction and fixation the general spontaneous level of SCE may be observed and in later periods only that part of SCE may be registered which is caused by internal conditions. The difference between the first and second results makes the part of SCE conditioned by the environmental effects.     

Review of the effects of cytochalasin B on cell division, cell movemnts, cell exchanges, and cell morphology

Cytochalasin B is known to induce quiescence in cells. We present here a comprehensive view dealing with the effects of cytochalasin B on cell division, movements, exchanges and morphology. The controversial mode of action of the drug is also considered.