The biology of conformation in the regulation of the senescent and transformed cell phenotypes.
The cytoskeleton and the composition of the cytoplasmic membrane of normal somatic cells are modified during proliferation in vitro. The loss of the proliferative potential during serial divisions is due in part to these structural modifications that induce a decline in the cell conformational flexibility. During viral transformation, the changes in the affinity of the cell to its matrix and to neighboring cells increase the cell migratory capability maintaining the conformational flexibility; this way the cells can proliferate to densities where normal cells stop dividing. Cell proliferation, the transformed phenotype, and differentiation could be modulated by changing the electric charge of a substratum. Results support the view that the biology of conformation is crucial for the expression of these cell properties.
Macieira-Coelho
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INSERM, 73 bis rue Maréchal Foch, 78000 Versailles, France. macieiracoelho@aol.com
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D002462:Cell Membrane; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D008968:Molecular Conformation
D004247:DNA