Cell Morphology and Motility Essays -- Biology

Tumor cells try to spread throughout the body. In order to do so, these cells need Rho and ROCK or Rac to signal their movement. There are at least two types of morphology (shapes/forms) that need these signals for cell movement. One type is the elongated morphology, which needs to use Rac for signalling, and pericellular proteolysis (an enzyme) for movement. The other type is the rounded (amoeboid) morphology, which uses RhoA and ROCK signalling. Initially, tumor cells were known to take the elongated form. It is now known that the rounded shape also exists and possibly other morphologies as well. This research is focused on tumor cells that have rounded morphology, elongated morphology, and those that can utilize both forms. There has been research in attempts to inhibit, or block, these signals in order to stop tumor cells from spreading. However, this may cause a problem for other cells that may need to move to certain places of the body to function. Researchers have experimented with the use of inhibitors, such as Y27632, C3, and a combination of Y27632 and C3, on different types of tumor cells to see what percentage of cells still invaded to a certain distance. This information is compared to the percentage of untreated cells that invaded the same set distance. The effectiveness of these inhibitors are then related to the type of morphology (elongated or rounded or both) to see if certain types of inhibitors work better in a type of morphology. More research has been conducted to find the percentage of different tumor cells that have invaded three different depths. This is also used to analyze the effectiveness of the inhibitors on the varying types of morphologies. The basic procedure for this type of experiment is d... ...affected by these inhibitors known at this point? Is it possible that there are other morphology changes and signals involved in cell movement? The hopes for developments in the fight against cancer are high, especially in the hearts of innumerable patients, families, and friends. Each small step in the right direction is a step toward a cure, and it's progress such as these discoveries that will someday help save and improve the lives of countless individuals. We would like to thank the people who sit behind a microscope ten hours a day. They are committed to watching blobs move around on a plate in the hope that these blobs can shed light on the diseases that hurt, cripple and kill our fellow human beings. The future is brighter because of the problems being tackled, and the prospects of tomorrow give reason for the contributions and investments of today. Cell Morphology and Motility Essays -- Biology Tumor cells try to spread throughout the body. In order to do so, these cells need Rho and ROCK or Rac to signal their movement. There are at least two types of morphology (shapes/forms) that need these signals for cell movement. One type is the elongated morphology, which needs to use Rac for signalling, and pericellular proteolysis (an enzyme) for movement. The other type is the rounded (amoeboid) morphology, which uses RhoA and ROCK signalling. Initially, tumor cells were known to take the elongated form. It is now known that the rounded shape also exists and possibly other morphologies as well. This research is focused on tumor cells that have rounded morphology, elongated morphology, and those that can utilize both forms. There has been research in attempts to inhibit, or block, these signals in order to stop tumor cells from spreading. However, this may cause a problem for other cells that may need to move to certain places of the body to function. Researchers have experimented with the use of inhibitors, such as Y27632, C3, and a combination of Y27632 and C3, on different types of tumor cells to see what percentage of cells still invaded to a certain distance. This information is compared to the percentage of untreated cells that invaded the same set distance. The effectiveness of these inhibitors are then related to the type of morphology (elongated or rounded or both) to see if certain types of inhibitors work better in a type of morphology. More research has been conducted to find the percentage of different tumor cells that have invaded three different depths. This is also used to analyze the effectiveness of the inhibitors on the varying types of morphologies. The basic procedure for this type of experiment is d... ...affected by these inhibitors known at this point? Is it possible that there are other morphology changes and signals involved in cell movement? The hopes for developments in the fight against cancer are high, especially in the hearts of innumerable patients, families, and friends. Each small step in the right direction is a step toward a cure, and it's progress such as these discoveries that will someday help save and improve the lives of countless individuals. We would like to thank the people who sit behind a microscope ten hours a day. They are committed to watching blobs move around on a plate in the hope that these blobs can shed light on the diseases that hurt, cripple and kill our fellow human beings. The future is brighter because of the problems being tackled, and the prospects of tomorrow give reason for the contributions and investments of today.