title: On the fractal nature of cytoplasm.
abstract: On the basis of a quantification of the fractal dimension, D, in micrographs of cytoskeleton components or microtrabecular lattice, we propose that the cellular cytoplasm can be described as a percolation cluster, a sort of 'random fractal'. Our hypothesis deals with: (i) the existence of the percolation threshold--a remarkable property of percolation processes; and (ii) the reactivity increase--when enzymes, or targets, and substrates, or effectors, coexist in the same topological dimension.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO, CONICET-UNT), Departamento de Bioquímica de la Nutrición, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Aon
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cortassa
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008433:Mathematics