Hierarchical Size Scaling during Multicellular Growth and Development.

TitleHierarchical Size Scaling during Multicellular Growth and Development.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsUppaluri, S, Weber, SC, Brangwynne, CP
JournalCell Rep
Volume17
Issue2
Pagination345-352
Date Published2016 Oct 04
ISSN2211-1247
KeywordsAnimals, Body Size, Caenorhabditis elegans, Cell Nucleolus, Cell Size, Larva, Organelle Biogenesis, Ribosomes
Abstract

<p>Multicellular organisms must regulate their growth across the diverse length scales of biological organization, but how this growth is controlled from organelle to body, while coordinating interdependent functions at each scale, remains poorly understood. We utilized the C. elegans worm intestine as a model system to identify distinct allometric scaling laws, revealing that the growth of individual structures is differentially regulated during development. We show that the volume of the nucleolus, a subcellular organelle, is directly proportional (isometric) to cell size during larval development. In contrast to findings in a variety of other systems, the size of the nucleus grows more slowly and is hypoallometric to the cell. We further demonstrate that the relative size of the nucleolus, the site of ribosome biogenesis, is predictive of the growth rate of the entire worm. These results highlight the importance of subcellular size for organism-level function in multicellular organisms.</p>

DOI10.1016/j.celrep.2016.09.007
Alternate JournalCell Rep
PubMed ID27705784
Grant ListDP2 GM105437 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
P40 OD010440 / OD / NIH HHS / United States