Biological Sciences
Cell Recognition
Cell recognition is the process by which cells identify and communicate with one another. It involves the recognition of specific molecules on the surface of cells, which can trigger various cellular responses such as adhesion, signaling, and immune responses. This recognition is crucial for the proper functioning of multicellular organisms and plays a key role in processes such as development, immunity, and tissue repair.
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3 Key excerpts on "Cell Recognition"
- Irwin Chaiken(Author)
- 2012(Publication Date)
- Academic Press(Publisher)
Determination of the underlying molecular mechanisms involved may be central to an understanding of the control of cell behavior during embryogenesis, as well as cell-contact pathologies, such as neoplastic transformation and metastasis. B. Molecular Studies of Specific Cell-Cell Recognition Several laboratories (11) have been working to find the molecular basis of cell-cell interactions. Assays have been developed to quantitate the most readily measurable event in intercellular recognition: Cell-cell adhesion. These studies have demonstrated that the specificity of Cell Recognition occurs during the first minutes of cell-cell contact (12). Initial recognition is rapidly followed by strengthening of the adhesive bond, an event which is blocked by low temper-ature or metabolic inhibitors (13,14). These early steps in specific cell adhesion are likely to be only the first of a cascade of molecular events leading to the established changes in cell behavior associated with cell-cell recogni-tion. Subsequent studies used these assays to identify and partially purify endogenous cell surface components which either enhance or inhibit specific initial adhesion events. This approach has been hampered by two difficulties: (a) The proposed cell adhesion molecules may be present at very low CELLULAR RECOGNITION 45 concentrations; and (b) The cell-cell adhesion assays are non-specifically perturbed by many molecules found in crude membrane extracts. For these reasons, we developed an alternate approach to the problem. We immobilized complex carbohydrates (a class of molecules which may be involved in cell interactions) on otherwise inert surfaces and tested for their ability to elicit specific cell adhesion.
- O Lowenstein(Author)
- 2012(Publication Date)
- Academic Press(Publisher)
Such a large number of biological systems apparently exhibiting intercellular recognition have been studied that it is neces-sary to be selective in considering those to be examined in detail in this review. No attempt will be made to cover comprehensively all aspects of this process. Initial speculation as to the reasons why cells evolved the ability to recognize specifically other cells with which they come into contact will assure the selection of appropriate biological systems for analysis. If the appropriate systems have been selected, then it is hoped that we will be able to define the requirements that must be met by a biochemical mechanism that enables cells to recognize their neighbors specifically and to define the basic principles held in com-mon by the various mechanisms that have evolved to meet these re-quirements. Primitive prokaryotic cells multiplied by a succession of binary fis-sions that produced succeeding generations each of which was geneti-cally identical to the previous one. The resulting homogeneous population thrives in the constant environment of its particular ecolog-ical niche. However, because of its limited capacity for adaptation, the population is in danger of being eliminated if the environment changes in an unfavorable manner. The adaptive capacity of the cells may be increased by genetic mutations which occur rarely and which are usually detrimental to the cell. Great evolutionary pressure must have been put on cells of this type to develop mechanisms by which they could take advantage of those very rare favorable mutations that occur randomly and to replace those genes damaged by mutation. Such mechanisms that have evolved are what we mean by the term sex. THE BIOCHEMISTRY OF INTERCELLULAR RECOGNITION 121 Most of these mechanisms involve a cellular interaction in which there is an exchange of DNA.
eBook - ePubEssentials of Chemical Biology
Structure and Dynamics of Biological Macromolecules
- Andrew D. Miller, Julian Tanner, Julian A. Tanner(Authors)
- 2013(Publication Date)
- Wiley(Publisher)
7
Molecular Recognition and Binding
7.1 Molecular recognition and binding in chemical biology
Wherever one cares to look in biology, function and activity is founded upon molecular recognition and binding events. These events usually involve interactions between a peptide, protein, nucleic acid, carbohydrate or lipid molecule (ligand) and complementary binding sites found in corresponding cognate acceptor molecules (receptors), typically proteins, located in lipid membranes or at other key interfaces. Such receptor–ligand interactions are then followed by chemical catalysis if the receptor is a bio-catalyst (see Chapter 8), or else provoke trans-conformational changes in the receptor that then elicit a range of alternate biological responses. Amazingly, the same non-covalent forces that create and maintain the structure of biological macromolecules and assemblies (electrostatic forces, van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions) are the very same that are involved in molecular recognition and binding events (see Chapter 1). However, the way in which these different forces cooperate together to produce the diversity of molecular recognition and binding events found in biology is breathtaking. Hence the chemical biology reader needs to develop a sound understanding of the principles of molecular recognition and binding events in order to begin properly the journey towards an understanding of the way biology works at the molecular level! Therefore, the objective in this chapter is to map out essential concepts in molecular recognition and binding events, with reference to a few useful biological examples, so that the reader may then have the necessary background to go forward and study other examples of molecular recognition and binding in biology.7.1.1 Roles of molecular recognition and binding
Molecular recognition and binding events found in biology are ubiquitous, diverse and pivotal, but there are common themes and principles. In order to impart a flavour of this, we will take a brief look at a number of interlocking but diverse examples of biological molecular recognition and binding events. These examples come from fields as diverse as neurotransmission, bio-catalysis (see Chapter 8), immunity (antibody recognition), autoimmunity, inflammation and chromatin condensation all the way through to the control of gene expression. Truly ubiquitous, diverse and pivotal!
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