Publication: Symmetry applied to nuclear microanatomy: a review of gene function and cell differentiation
Authors
Bell, C.D.
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Publisher
Murcia : F. Hernández
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DOI
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info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to review current
knowledge and understandings of gene control and cell
differentiation, based upon an appreciation of a possible
role that nuclear microanatomy and considerations of
steric symmetry might play.
Metaphase sister chromatids have identical base
codes but show a mirror image symmetry of higher order
coiling. Chromosomes in the interphase nucleus have
spatially well defined domains and are anatomically
distinct and ordered. Chromosomes are known to have
interactions i.e. sex chromosome inactivation, PEV etc
An hypothesis of gene activation is made based on
steric interactions among chromosomes and between
chromosomes and activating and repressor proteins.
These interactions may be influenced by the handedness
of higher order chromatid coiling, since homologues
show mirror-image symmetrical coiling in metaphase,
which might be retained to a certain degree in
interphase. This may result in a binary switching of
genes.
All possible combinations of chromatids in the
interphase nucleus, would be enabled by a differential
segregation of homologous chromatids at mitosis. To
conserve patterns of interchromatid interactions, there
must be a programmed segregation of chromatids
towards one of the two spindle pole attachments. This
orientation might be effected by preferential attachment of microtubules to kinetochore attachment sites, by steric
hindrance of the kinetochore by condensed chromatin
which initially allows only unidirectional tubule
attachment, or possibly by a tethering of interacting
chromatids which would migrate en masse.
An attempt to apply this hypothesis to some
illustrative pathological conditions is made.
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