• Home
  • About
  • Contact us
Tech News, Magazine & Review WordPress Theme 2017
  • Computing
  • Entertainment
  • Gaming
  • Mobile
  • Science
  • Security
  • Services
  • Software
  • Space
No Result
View All Result
  • Computing
  • Entertainment
  • Gaming
  • Mobile
  • Science
  • Security
  • Services
  • Software
  • Space
Technovanguard — Be at the forefront of technology news
No Result
View All Result

How cells use ‘tentacles’ to move around our bodies

Justin Rowell by Justin Rowell
29.09.2022
Home Science

black octopus illustration on red surface

New findings clarify how cells use octopus-like tentacles called filopodia to move around in our bodies.

“While the cell doesn’t have eyes or a sense of smell, its surface is equipped with ultra-slim filopodia that resemble entangled octopus tentacles. These filopodia help a cell move towards a bacterium, and at the same time, act as sensory feelers that identify the bacterium as a prey,” explains associate professor Poul Martin Bendix, head of the laboratory for experimental biophysics at the University of Copenhagen’s Niels Bohr Institute.

The discovery is not that filopodia act as sensory devices—which was already well established—but rather about how they can rotate and behave mechanically, which helps a cell move, as when a cancer cell invades new tissue.

“Obviously, our results are of interest to cancer researchers. Cancer cells are noted for their being highly invasive. And, it is reasonable to believe that they are especially dependent on the efficacy of their filopodia, in terms of examining their surroundings and facilitating their spread. So, it’s conceivable that by finding ways of inhibiting the filopodia of cancer cells, cancer growth can be stalled,” explains Bendix.

For this reason, researchers from the Danish Cancer Society Research Center are a part of the team behind the discovery. Among other things, the cancer researchers are interested in whether switching off the production of certain proteins can inhibit the transport mechanisms which are important for the filopodia of cancer cells.

According to Bendix, the mechanical function of filopodia is comparable to a rubber band. Untwisted, a rubber band has no power. But if you twist it, it contracts. This combination of twisting and contraction helps a cell move directionally and makes the filopodia very flexible.

“They’re able to bend—twist, if you will—in a way that allows them to explore the entire space around the cell, and they can even penetrate tissues in their environment,” says Natascha Leijnse, lead author of the paper in Nature Communications.

The mechanism appears to be found in all living cells. Besides cancer cells, it is also relevant to study the importance of filopodia in other types of cells, such as embryonic stem cells and brain cells, which depend on filopodia for their development.

For the project, associate professor Amin Doostmohammadi, who heads a research group that simulates biologically active materials, modeled filopodia behavior.

“It is very interesting that Amin Doostmohammadi could simulate the mechanical movements we witnessed through the microscope, completely independent of chemical and biological details,” explains Bendix.

Describing the mechanical behavior of filopodia depended on the researcher’s access to NBI equipment called optical tweezers. When an object is extraordinarily small, it becomes impossible to hold onto it mechanically. Instead, researchers can hold and move the object with a laser beam with a carefully calibrated wavelength.

“The experiments require the use of several optical tweezers and the simultaneous deployment of ultra-fine microscopy,” explains Bendix.

Source: University of Copenhagen

The post How cells use ‘tentacles’ to move around our bodies appeared first on Technovanguard.


Next Post
The Samsung Galaxy S22 is $100 off for a very limited time

The Samsung Galaxy S22 is $100 off for a very limited time

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended.

How Phishers Are Slinking Their Links Into LinkedIn

How Phishers Are Slinking Their Links Into LinkedIn

29.09.2022
The Umbrella Academy cast shares their favorite group scenes from season 3

The Umbrella Academy cast shares their favorite group scenes from season 3

29.09.2022

Trending.

ShiftDown reduces the load of processes on Windows to speed things up

ShiftDown reduces the load of processes on Windows to speed things up

29.09.2022

The most important humanitarian problems to be solved

29.09.2022
Netflix’s movie Hilda and the Mountain King answers the series’ biggest mysteries

Netflix’s movie Hilda and the Mountain King answers the series’ biggest mysteries

29.09.2022
Explore the Power BI ServiceNow App: Detailed Guide for Users

Explore the Power BI ServiceNow App: Detailed Guide for Users

29.09.2022
What is the Arecibo Message?

What is the Arecibo Message?

29.09.2022
Technovanguard — Be at the forefront of technology news

Technovanguard - The latest news from the world of IT and modern technologies.

Categories

  • Computing
  • Entertainment
  • Gaming
  • Internet
  • Mobile
  • Science
  • Security
  • Services
  • Software
  • Space
  • Без рубрики

Tags

best bitcoin casino best bitcoin gambling site best crypto casino bitcoin gambling site btc casino FEATUREDNEWS linkedin connection message linkedin connection request template linkedin connect message examples linkedin networking message template linkedin sales message top bitcoin casinos

Recent News

How to Preserve Your Capital in a Tightened Regulatory Environment

How to Preserve Your Capital in a Tightened Regulatory Environment

27.11.2023
Tech Industry Faces Unprecedented Workforce Challenges as Layoffs Surpass 2022 Numbers

Tech Industry Faces Unprecedented Workforce Challenges as Layoffs Surpass 2022 Numbers

10.11.2023
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact us

© 2021 technovanguard.com. Submit news release

No Result
View All Result
  • Computing
  • Entertainment
  • Gaming
  • Mobile
  • Science
  • Security
  • Services
  • Software
  • Space

© 2021 technovanguard.com. Submit news release