Surface membrane-associated regulation of cell assembly, differentiation, and growth.
The role of the surface membrane in regulating proliferation and differentiation of eukaryotic cells is highly complex. Proximal cell-cell interactions are involved, including physical contact via junctional complexes, exfoliation of surface membrane vesicles, proteolytic cleavage of membrane-bound precursors, and exocytosis of soluble proteins (see Fig 5). At another level, the surface expresses receptors and other proteins that mediate cell-cell adhesion, a multistep event that may be sufficient to activate some growth-associated genes and alter cell shape. The evidence indicates that together with secreted growth factors, surface membrane-associated molecules play a dynamic role in regulating multicellular assembly and cell differentiation and growth.
Dainiak
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Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington 06032.
D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction