Where to Go: Breaking the Symmetry in Cell Motility.
Cell migration in the "correct" direction is pivotal for many biological processes. Although most work is devoted to its molecular mechanisms, the cell's preference for one direction over others, thus overcoming intrinsic random motility, epitomizes a profound principle that underlies...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2016-05-01
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| Series: | PLoS Biology |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4873176?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1818894250673176576 |
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| author | Sui Huang |
| author_facet | Sui Huang |
| author_sort | Sui Huang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cell migration in the "correct" direction is pivotal for many biological processes. Although most work is devoted to its molecular mechanisms, the cell's preference for one direction over others, thus overcoming intrinsic random motility, epitomizes a profound principle that underlies all complex systems: the choice of one axis, in structure or motion, from a uniform or symmetric set of options. Explaining directional motility by an external chemo-attractant gradient does not solve but only shifts the problem of causation: whence the gradient? A new study in PLOS Biology shows cell migration in a self-generated gradient, offering an opportunity to take a broader look at the old dualism of extrinsic instruction versus intrinsic symmetry-breaking in cell biology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T18:25:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8a46ec0ca7054f69a37b58df2832a40a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1544-9173 1545-7885 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T18:25:31Z |
| publishDate | 2016-05-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-8a46ec0ca7054f69a37b58df2832a40a2022-12-21T20:10:51ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Biology1544-91731545-78852016-05-01145e100246310.1371/journal.pbio.1002463Where to Go: Breaking the Symmetry in Cell Motility.Sui HuangCell migration in the "correct" direction is pivotal for many biological processes. Although most work is devoted to its molecular mechanisms, the cell's preference for one direction over others, thus overcoming intrinsic random motility, epitomizes a profound principle that underlies all complex systems: the choice of one axis, in structure or motion, from a uniform or symmetric set of options. Explaining directional motility by an external chemo-attractant gradient does not solve but only shifts the problem of causation: whence the gradient? A new study in PLOS Biology shows cell migration in a self-generated gradient, offering an opportunity to take a broader look at the old dualism of extrinsic instruction versus intrinsic symmetry-breaking in cell biology.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4873176?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Sui Huang Where to Go: Breaking the Symmetry in Cell Motility. PLoS Biology |
| title | Where to Go: Breaking the Symmetry in Cell Motility. |
| title_full | Where to Go: Breaking the Symmetry in Cell Motility. |
| title_fullStr | Where to Go: Breaking the Symmetry in Cell Motility. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Where to Go: Breaking the Symmetry in Cell Motility. |
| title_short | Where to Go: Breaking the Symmetry in Cell Motility. |
| title_sort | where to go breaking the symmetry in cell motility |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4873176?pdf=render |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT suihuang wheretogobreakingthesymmetryincellmotility |