Journal
ANNUAL REVIEW OF GENETICS
Volume 56, Issue -, Pages 165-185Publisher
ANNUAL REVIEWS
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genet-080320-030537
Keywords
nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio; DNA-to-cytoplasmic ratio; cell size; cell cycle; polyploidy; biosynthetic activity
Categories
Funding
- bioMT through National Institutes of Health National Institute of General Medical Sciences [P20-GM113132]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Cell maintains a relatively constant nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio by coupling DNA content, nuclear size, and cell size, which plays a crucial role in cell growth and cycle progression to meet physiological demands.
Though cell size varies between different cells and across species, the nuclear-to-cytoplasmic (N/C) ratio is largely maintained across species and within cell types. A cell maintains a relatively constant N/C ratio by coupling DNA content, nuclear size, and cell size. We explore how cells couple cell division and growth to DNA content. In some cases, cells use DNA as a molecular yardstick to control the availability of cell cycle regulators. In other cases, DNA sets a limit for biosynthetic capacity. Developmentally programmed variations in the N/C ratio for a given cell type suggest that a specific N/C ratio is required to respond to given physiological demands. Recent observations connecting decreased N/C ratios with cellular senescence indicate that maintaining the proper N/C ratio is essential for proper cellular functioning. Together, these findings suggest a causative, not simply correlative, role for the N/C ratio in regulating cell growth and cell cycle progression.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available