The Role of Physical and Geometrical Factors in the Growth of Living Organisms

Shestopaloff, Yuri K.

doi:10.1142/s1793048010001111

Cited by 6 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 6 publications

(2 reference statements)

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“…Substituting nutrient influx defined by equation (A.14), the growth ratio from (12), and the maximum possible volume (14) into the growth equation (5), we obtain a differential equation, whose solution defines amoeba's growth curve. The solution can be obtained analytically or by solving the equation numerically (the approach we used).…”

Section: Computing the Growth Curvementioning

confidence: 99%

Why Cells Grow and Divide? General Growth Mechanism and How it Defines Cells’ Growth, Reproduction and Metabolic Properties

Shestopaloff¹

2015

Biophys. Rev. Lett.

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We consider a general growth mechanism, which acts at cellular level and above (organs, systems and whole organisms). Using its mathematical representation, the growth equation, we study the growth and division mechanisms of amoeba and fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. We show how this mechanism, together with biomolecular machinery, governs growth and reproduction of cells, and these organisms in particular. This mechanism provides revealing answers to fundamental questions of biology, like why cells grow and divide, why and when cells' growth stops. It also sheds light on questions like why and how life originated and developed. Solving the growth equation, we obtain analytical expression for the growth curve of fission yeast as a function of geometrical characteristics and nutrient influxes for RNA and protein synthesis, and compare the computed growth curves with 85 experiments. Statistical evaluation shows that these growth curves correspond to experimental data significantly better than all previous approximations. Also, using the general growth mechanism, we show how metabolic characteristics of cells, their size and evolutionary traits relate, considering fission yeast. In particular, we found that fission yeast S. pombe consumes about 16-18 times more nutrients for maintenance needs than for biomass synthesis.

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Section: Computing the Growth Curvementioning

confidence: 99%

Why Cells Grow and Divide? General Growth Mechanism and How it Defines Cells’ Growth, Reproduction and Metabolic Properties

Shestopaloff¹

2015

Biophys. Rev. Lett.

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“…The idea of existence of a general growth law that governs the growth of all living organisms, and its mathematical representation, the growth equation, has been previously introduced in several articles and books 1,2,3 . However, the previous publications left many issues open.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nutritional requirements of organism's mass (of course, associated with volume and geometry), since organism has to maintain functioning of existing mass and produce biomass using supplied nutrients. 3. Specifics of biochemical machinery of an organism.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

General Law of Growth and Replication, Growth Equation and Its Applications

Shestopaloff¹

2012

Biophys. Rev. Lett.

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We present significantly advanced studies of the previously introduced physical growth mechanism and unite it with biochemical growth factors. Obtained results allowed formulation of the general growth law which governs growth and evolutional development of all living organisms, their organs and systems. It was discovered that the growth cycle is predefined by the distribution of nutritional resources between maintenance needs and biomass production. This distribution is quantitatively defined by the growth ratio parameter, which depends on the geometry of an organism, phase of growth and, indirectly, the organism's biochemical machinery. The amount of produced biomass, in turn, defines the composition of biochemical reactions. Changing amount of nutrients diverted to biomass production is what forces organisms to proceed through the whole growth and replication cycle. The growth law can be formulated as follows: the rate of growth is proportional to influx of nutrients and growth ratio. Considering specific biochemical components of different organisms, we find influxes of required nutrients and substitute them into the growth equation; then, we compute growth curves for amoeba, wild type fission yeast, and fission yeast's mutant. In all cases, predicted growth curves correspond very well to experimental data. Obtained results prove validity and fundamental scientific value of the discovery.

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“…Recent studies [11][12][13][14][15][16][17] (the most important and comprehensive work is [17]), discovered that, indeed, such a regulatory mechanism exists at higher-than-molecular scales, which is called the general growth law. This law universally operates at scales ranging from cells and cellular components to organs and whole organisms.…”

Section: The General Growth Lawmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Method for Modeling Growth of Organs and Transplants Based on the General Growth Law: Application to the Liver in Dogs and Humans

Shestopaloff¹,

Sbalzarini

2014

PLoS ONE

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Understanding biological phenomena requires a systemic approach that incorporates different mechanisms acting on different spatial and temporal scales, since in organisms the workings of all components, such as organelles, cells, and organs interrelate. This inherent interdependency between diverse biological mechanisms, both on the same and on different scales, provides the functioning of an organism capable of maintaining homeostasis and physiological stability through numerous feedback loops. Thus, developing models of organisms and their constituents should be done within the overall systemic context of the studied phenomena. We introduce such a method for modeling growth and regeneration of livers at the organ scale, considering it a part of the overall multi-scale biochemical and biophysical processes of an organism. Our method is based on the earlier discovered general growth law, postulating that any biological growth process comprises a uniquely defined distribution of nutritional resources between maintenance needs and biomass production. Based on this law, we introduce a liver growth model that allows to accurately predicting the growth of liver transplants in dogs and liver grafts in humans. Using this model, we find quantitative growth characteristics, such as the time point when the transition period after surgery is over and the liver resumes normal growth, rates at which hepatocytes are involved in proliferation, etc. We then use the model to determine and quantify otherwise unobservable metabolic properties of livers.

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The Role of Physical and Geometrical Factors in the Growth of Living Organisms

Cited by 6 publications

References 6 publications

Why Cells Grow and Divide? General Growth Mechanism and How it Defines Cells’ Growth, Reproduction and Metabolic Properties

Why Cells Grow and Divide? General Growth Mechanism and How it Defines Cells’ Growth, Reproduction and Metabolic Properties

General Law of Growth and Replication, Growth Equation and Its Applications

A Method for Modeling Growth of Organs and Transplants Based on the General Growth Law: Application to the Liver in Dogs and Humans

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