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BackgroundSelf‐sustained oscillations are a ubiquitous and vital phenomenon in living systems. From primitive single‐cellular bacteria to the most sophisticated organisms, periodicities have been observed in a broad spectrum of biological processes such as neuron firing, heart beats, cell cycles, circadian rhythms, etc. Defects in these oscillators can cause diseases from insomnia to cancer. Elucidating their fundamental mechanisms is of great significance to diseases, and yet challenging, due to the complexity and diversity of these oscillators. ResultsApproaches in quantitative systems biology and synthetic biology have been most effective by simplifying the systems to contain only the most essential regulators. Here, we will review major progress that has been made in understanding biological oscillators using these approaches. The quantitative systems biology approach allows for identification of the essential components of an oscillator in an endogenous system. The synthetic biology approach makes use of the knowledge to design the simplest,de novooscillators in both live cells and cell‐free systems. These synthetic oscillators are tractable to further detailed analysis and manipulations. ConclusionWith the recent development of biological and computational tools, both approaches have made significant achievements.
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Macromolecules of the cell: a polymer science viewpoint
Abstract Polyelectrolytes are ubiquitous in biology, from the polynucleotide chain in our DNA, the hyaluronic acid in the vitreous body of the eye (Gaoet al.,Int J Ophthalmol, 8, 437–440, 2015) to the myosin and actin fibrils that make up our muscles. While synthetic polyelectrolytes are well studied, their correlation to biological polyelectrolytes is just beginning. This review will examine the polyelectrolytes that make up fundamental cell biology from a macromolecular perspective and the implications polyelectrolyte theory has on biological function. © 2020 Society of Industrial Chemistry
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- Award ID(s):
- 1844463
- PAR ID:
- 10451007
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Polymer International
- Volume:
- 70
- Issue:
- 7
- ISSN:
- 0959-8103
- Format(s):
- Medium: X Size: p. 885-888
- Size(s):
- p. 885-888
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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