Discover how cells under intense crowding can slow their own growth, forming mesmerizing concentric circle patterns. Learn about the groundbreaking research that reveals this unexpected cellular behavior and its potential implications for controlling harmful microorganisms. Cell growth and cell division are fundamental biological processes with far-reaching consequences.
Cells Adapt to Crowded Environments
Just like many organisms on our planet, cells can experience significant stress when packed into crowded environments, akin to a mosh pit. However, unlike most other life forms, cells have a unique way of coping with this physical stress from their neighbors – they can dramatically slow down their own growth.
This remarkable ability was discovered through simulations and modeling of dividing bacterial colonies, as described in a new study published in the prestigious journal Physical Review Letters. The lead author of the study, Scott Weady, a research fellow at the Flatiron Institute’s Center for Computational Biology in New York City, was surprised to find that cells under mechanical stress can regulate their growth in this way. “It’s interesting that they form these concentric circles where each ring shows how much they’ve been stifled by their neighbors, ultimately impacting how large they can grow,” Weady says. “It’s a robust pattern that comes from a very simple rule, and it’s just something that no one had really thought to measure before.”
Uncovering the Mechanics of Cell Growth Patterns
The researchers used a multi-pronged approach to investigate this phenomenon. They started with particle simulations, which allowed them to observe the proliferation process in a relatively small number of cells. From this data, the team then developed a continuum model, which enabled them to estimate how the process could work in much larger populations of cells.
“With particle simulations, you’re looking at something discrete – in this case bacteria that you’re tracking over time,” explains Weady. “But the continuum model operates differently, by assuming that the number of particles is very large, so that you can represent it as a continuous material. This helps us better investigate the process on a larger scale and understand how robust it is.” Excitingly, the team found that their continuum model aligned very well with the observations from the particle simulations, validating their findings.
Implications for Controlling Harmful Microorganisms
The discovery of this cell growth pattern has significant implications, particularly when it comes to controlling the proliferation of harmful microorganisms, such as in the case of bacterial infections. “Cell proliferation is valuable to study because it’s such a fundamental process, but also because when the proliferating cells are harmful, they can cause detrimental effects,” says Weady.
The model developed in this study could serve as a foundation for investigating other cellular behaviors and exploring ways to regulate cell growth. “It’s important to figure out how the process is naturally regulated, as well as how to control it,” Weady explains. “Our model identifies environmental factors that can enhance a cell’s response to mechanical stress, and promoting these factors could slow down exponential growth.” This breakthrough research paves the way for new strategies to manage the growth of harmful microbes, potentially leading to improved treatments for infections or better control in manufacturing processes.
