Asymmetry of single cells and where that leads.
Most single animal cells have an internal vector that determines where recycling membrane is added to the cell's surface. Because of the specific molecular composition of this added membrane, a dynamic asymmetry is formed on the surface of the cell. The consequences of this dynamic asymmetry are discussed, together with what they imply for how cells move. The polarity of a single-celled embryo, such as that of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, is explored in a similar framework.
Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, United Kingdom; email: msb@mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk.
Mark S
MS
Bretscher
D000818:Animals; D001695:Biology / Q000379:methods; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry*; D002465:Cell Movement; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D004023:Dictyostelium; D004705:Endocytosis; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry
D006388:Hemagglutinins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011506:Proteins
cell migration; cell polarity; cell-surface gradients; clathrin; coated vesicle; cytoskeleton; polarity in development