55-460: 1POZ , 1UUH , 2I83 , 4PZ3 , 4PZ4 960 12505 ENSG00000026508 ENSMUSG00000005087 P16070 P15379 NM_001202555 NM_001202556 NM_001202557 NM_009851 NP_001189484 NP_001189485 NP_001189486 NP_033981 The CD44 antigen is a cell -surface glycoprotein involved in cell–cell interactions, cell adhesion and migration. In humans, the CD44 antigen
110-437: A Honey-comb , but that the pores of it were not regular". To further support his theory, Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann both also studied cells of both animal and plants. What they discovered were significant differences between the two types of cells. This put forth the idea that cells were not only fundamental to plants, but animals as well. Indian blood group system The Indian blood group system ( In )
165-420: A membrane that envelops the cell, regulates what moves in and out (selectively permeable), and maintains the electric potential of the cell . Inside the membrane, the cytoplasm takes up most of the cell's volume. Except red blood cells , which lack a cell nucleus and most organelles to accommodate maximum space for hemoglobin , all cells possess DNA , the hereditary material of genes , and RNA , containing
220-641: A nucleus , and prokaryotic cells , which lack a nucleus but have a nucleoid region. Prokaryotes are single-celled organisms such as bacteria , whereas eukaryotes can be either single-celled, such as amoebae , or multicellular , such as some algae , plants , animals , and fungi . Eukaryotic cells contain organelles including mitochondria , which provide energy for cell functions; chloroplasts , which create sugars by photosynthesis , in plants; and ribosomes , which synthesise proteins. Cells were discovered by Robert Hooke in 1665, who named them after their resemblance to cells inhabited by Christian monks in
275-516: A nucleus , and other membrane-bound organelles . The DNA of a prokaryotic cell consists of a single circular chromosome that is in direct contact with the cytoplasm . The nuclear region in the cytoplasm is called the nucleoid . Most prokaryotes are the smallest of all organisms, ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 μm in diameter. A prokaryotic cell has three regions: Plants , animals , fungi , slime moulds , protozoa , and algae are all eukaryotic . These cells are about fifteen times wider than
330-454: A cell. Some (such as the nucleus and Golgi apparatus ) are typically solitary, while others (such as mitochondria , chloroplasts , peroxisomes and lysosomes ) can be numerous (hundreds to thousands). The cytosol is the gelatinous fluid that fills the cell and surrounds the organelles. Many cells also have structures which exist wholly or partially outside the cell membrane. These structures are notable because they are not protected from
385-434: A discrete nucleus, usually with additional genetic material in some organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts (see endosymbiotic theory ). A human cell has genetic material contained in the cell nucleus (the nuclear genome ) and in the mitochondria (the mitochondrial genome ). In humans, the nuclear genome is divided into 46 linear DNA molecules called chromosomes , including 22 homologous chromosome pairs and
440-407: A diverse range of single-celled organisms. The plants were created around 1.6 billion years ago with a second episode of symbiogenesis that added chloroplasts , derived from cyanobacteria . In 1665, Robert Hooke examined a thin slice of cork under his microscope , and saw a structure of small enclosures. He wrote "I could exceeding plainly perceive it to be all perforated and porous, much like
495-414: A fluid mosaic membrane. Embedded within this membrane is a macromolecular structure called the porosome the universal secretory portal in cells and a variety of protein molecules that act as channels and pumps that move different molecules into and out of the cell. The membrane is semi-permeable, and selectively permeable, in that it can either let a substance ( molecule or ion ) pass through freely, to
550-405: A functional three-dimensional protein molecule. Unicellular organisms can move in order to find food or escape predators. Common mechanisms of motion include flagella and cilia . In multicellular organisms, cells can move during processes such as wound healing, the immune response and cancer metastasis . For example, in wound healing in animals, white blood cells move to the wound site to kill
605-407: A high level of CD44 expression is not always associated with an unfavorable outcome. On the contrary, in some neoplasms CD44 upregulation is associated with a favorable outcome. This is true of prostate cancer , where the transcript variant CD44v5 (includes the fifth 'v5' exon) is associated with better prognosis (increased time to recurrence following surgery). In prostate cancer, the exclusion of
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#1732790487088660-445: A larger isoform (CD44E), which includes exons v8–10. CD44 participates in a wide variety of cellular functions including lymphocyte activation, recirculation and homing, hematopoiesis , and tumor metastasis . CD44 is a receptor for hyaluronic acid and internalizes metals bound to hyaluronic acid and can also interact with other ligands , such as osteopontin , collagens , and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). CD44 function
715-427: A limited extent or not at all. Cell surface membranes also contain receptor proteins that allow cells to detect external signaling molecules such as hormones . The cytoskeleton acts to organize and maintain the cell's shape; anchors organelles in place; helps during endocytosis , the uptake of external materials by a cell, and cytokinesis , the separation of daughter cells after cell division ; and moves parts of
770-427: A monastery. Cell theory , developed in 1839 by Matthias Jakob Schleiden and Theodor Schwann , states that all organisms are composed of one or more cells, that cells are the fundamental unit of structure and function in all living organisms, and that all cells come from pre-existing cells. Cells are broadly categorized into two types: eukaryotic cells , which possess a nucleus , and prokaryotic cells , which lack
825-435: A nucleus but have a nucleoid region. Prokaryotes are single-celled organisms , whereas eukaryotes can be either single-celled or multicellular . Prokaryotes include bacteria and archaea , two of the three domains of life . Prokaryotic cells were the first form of life on Earth, characterized by having vital biological processes including cell signaling . They are simpler and smaller than eukaryotic cells, and lack
880-436: A pair of sex chromosomes . The mitochondrial genome is a circular DNA molecule distinct from nuclear DNA. Although the mitochondrial DNA is very small compared to nuclear chromosomes, it codes for 13 proteins involved in mitochondrial energy production and specific tRNAs. Foreign genetic material (most commonly DNA) can also be artificially introduced into the cell by a process called transfection . This can be transient, if
935-461: A process called eukaryogenesis . This is widely agreed to have involved symbiogenesis , in which archaea and bacteria came together to create the first eukaryotic common ancestor. This cell had a new level of complexity and capability, with a nucleus and facultatively aerobic mitochondria . It evolved some 2 billion years ago into a population of single-celled organisms that included the last eukaryotic common ancestor, gaining capabilities along
990-443: A process of nuclear division, called mitosis , followed by division of the cell, called cytokinesis . A diploid cell may also undergo meiosis to produce haploid cells, usually four. Haploid cells serve as gametes in multicellular organisms, fusing to form new diploid cells. DNA replication , or the process of duplicating a cell's genome, always happens when a cell divides through mitosis or binary fission. This occurs during
1045-458: A typical prokaryote and can be as much as a thousand times greater in volume. The main distinguishing feature of eukaryotes as compared to prokaryotes is compartmentalization : the presence of membrane-bound organelles (compartments) in which specific activities take place. Most important among these is a cell nucleus , an organelle that houses the cell's DNA . This nucleus gives the eukaryote its name, which means "true kernel (nucleus)". Some of
1100-460: Is encoded in its DNA sequence. RNA is used for information transport (e.g., mRNA ) and enzymatic functions (e.g., ribosomal RNA). Transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules are used to add amino acids during protein translation . Prokaryotic genetic material is organized in a simple circular bacterial chromosome in the nucleoid region of the cytoplasm. Eukaryotic genetic material is divided into different, linear molecules called chromosomes inside
1155-631: Is a classification of blood based on the presence or absence of inherited antigens that reside within the CD44 molecule that is expressed on the surface of blood cells . It is named so because 4% of the population in India possess it. Most individuals express the In antigen that results from an arginine residue at position 46 of CD44 . The In blood type results from a substitution proline for arginine at this same position. This immunology article
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#17327904870881210-734: Is a determinant for the Indian blood group system . In addition, variations in CD44 are reported as cell surface markers for some breast and prostate cancer stem cells . In breast cancer research CD44+/CD24- expression is commonly used as a marker for breast CSCs and is used to sort breast cancer cells into a population enriched in cells with stem-like characteristics and has been seen as an indicator of increased survival time in epithelial ovarian cancer patients. Endometrial cells in women with endometriosis demonstrate increased expression of splice variants of CD44, and increased adherence to peritoneal cells. CD44 variant isoforms are also relevant to
1265-526: Is controlled by its posttranslational modifications. One critical modification involves discrete sialofucosylations rendering the selectin-binding glycoform of CD44 called HCELL (for Hematopoietic Cell E-selectin/L-selectin Ligand). (see below) Transcripts for this gene undergo complex alternative splicing that results in many functionally distinct isoforms ; however, the full length nature of some of these variants has not been determined. Alternative splicing
1320-697: Is detected. Diverse repair processes have evolved in organisms ranging from bacteria to humans. The widespread prevalence of these repair processes indicates the importance of maintaining cellular DNA in an undamaged state in order to avoid cell death or errors of replication due to damage that could lead to mutation . E. coli bacteria are a well-studied example of a cellular organism with diverse well-defined DNA repair processes. These include: nucleotide excision repair , DNA mismatch repair , non-homologous end joining of double-strand breaks, recombinational repair and light-dependent repair ( photoreactivation ). Between successive cell divisions, cells grow through
1375-500: Is encoded by the CD44 gene on chromosome 11. CD44 has been referred to as HCAM (homing cell adhesion molecule ), Pgp-1 (phagocytic glycoprotein -1), Hermes antigen, lymphocyte homing receptor, ECM-III, and HUTCH-1. CD44 is expressed in a large number of mammalian cell types. The standard isoform , designated CD44s, comprising exons 1–5 and 16–20 is expressed in most cell types. CD44 splice variants containing variable exons are designated CD44v. Some epithelial cells also express
1430-597: Is from cyanobacteria -like organisms that lived between 3 and 3.5 billion years ago. Other early fossils of multicellular organisms include the contested Grypania spiralis and the fossils of the black shales of the Palaeoproterozoic Francevillian Group Fossil B Formation in Gabon . The evolution of multicellularity from unicellular ancestors has been replicated in the laboratory, in evolution experiments using predation as
1485-781: Is less well-studied but is involved in the maintenance of cell shape, polarity and cytokinesis. The subunit protein of microfilaments is a small, monomeric protein called actin . The subunit of microtubules is a dimeric molecule called tubulin . Intermediate filaments are heteropolymers whose subunits vary among the cell types in different tissues. Some of the subunit proteins of intermediate filaments include vimentin , desmin , lamin (lamins A, B and C), keratin (multiple acidic and basic keratins), and neurofilament proteins ( NF–L , NF–M ). Two different kinds of genetic material exist: deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). Cells use DNA for their long-term information storage. The biological information contained in an organism
1540-510: Is present in some bacteria outside the cell membrane and cell wall. The capsule may be polysaccharide as in pneumococci , meningococci or polypeptide as Bacillus anthracis or hyaluronic acid as in streptococci . Capsules are not marked by normal staining protocols and can be detected by India ink or methyl blue , which allows for higher contrast between the cells for observation. Flagella are organelles for cellular mobility. The bacterial flagellum stretches from cytoplasm through
1595-581: Is the basic structural and functional unit of all forms of life . Every cell consists of cytoplasm enclosed within a membrane ; many cells contain organelles , each with a specific function. The term comes from the Latin word cellula meaning 'small room'. Most cells are only visible under a microscope . Cells emerged on Earth about 4 billion years ago. All cells are capable of replication , protein synthesis , and motility . Cells are broadly categorized into two types: eukaryotic cells , which possess
1650-526: Is the basis for the structural and functional diversity of this protein, and may be related to tumor metastasis. Splice variants of CD44 on colon cancer cells display sialofucosylated HCELL glycoforms that serve as P-, L-, and E-selectin ligands and fibrin, but not fibrinogen, receptors under hemodynamic flow conditions pertinent to the process of cancer metastasis. CD44 gene transcription is at least in part activated by beta-catenin and Wnt signalling (also linked to tumour development). The HCELL glycoform
1705-445: The cell membrane , as well as in signaling for cell survival . All these biological properties are essential to the physiological activities of normal cells, but they are also associated with the pathologic activities of cancer cells . Experiments in animals have shown that targeting of CD44 by antibodies , antisense oligonucleotides, and CD44-soluble proteins markedly reduces the malignant activities of various neoplasms , stressing
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1760-401: The selective pressure . The origin of cells has to do with the origin of life , which began the history of life on Earth. Small molecules needed for life may have been carried to Earth on meteorites, created at deep-sea vents , or synthesized by lightning in a reducing atmosphere . There is little experimental data defining what the first self-replicating forms were. RNA may have been
1815-614: The DNA is not inserted into the cell's genome , or stable, if it is. Certain viruses also insert their genetic material into the genome. Organelles are parts of the cell that are adapted and/or specialized for carrying out one or more vital functions, analogous to the organs of the human body (such as the heart, lung, and kidney, with each organ performing a different function). Both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells have organelles, but prokaryotic organelles are generally simpler and are not membrane-bound. There are several types of organelles in
1870-467: The S phase of the cell cycle . In meiosis, the DNA is replicated only once, while the cell divides twice. DNA replication only occurs before meiosis I . DNA replication does not occur when the cells divide the second time, in meiosis II . Replication, like all cellular activities, requires specialized proteins for carrying out the job. Cells of all organisms contain enzyme systems that scan their DNA for damage and carry out repair processes when it
1925-488: The attachment of bacteria to specific receptors on human cells ( cell adhesion ). There are special types of pili involved in bacterial conjugation . Cell division involves a single cell (called a mother cell ) dividing into two daughter cells. This leads to growth in multicellular organisms (the growth of tissue ) and to procreation ( vegetative reproduction ) in unicellular organisms . Prokaryotic cells divide by binary fission , while eukaryotic cells usually undergo
1980-416: The cell in processes of growth and mobility. The eukaryotic cytoskeleton is composed of microtubules , intermediate filaments and microfilaments . In the cytoskeleton of a neuron the intermediate filaments are known as neurofilaments . There are a great number of proteins associated with them, each controlling a cell's structure by directing, bundling, and aligning filaments. The prokaryotic cytoskeleton
2035-444: The cell membrane(s) and extrudes through the cell wall. They are long and thick thread-like appendages, protein in nature. A different type of flagellum is found in archaea and a different type is found in eukaryotes. A fimbria (plural fimbriae also known as a pilus , plural pili) is a short, thin, hair-like filament found on the surface of bacteria. Fimbriae are formed of a protein called pilin ( antigenic ) and are responsible for
2090-449: The cell, glucose is broken down to make adenosine triphosphate ( ATP ), a molecule that possesses readily available energy, through two different pathways. In plant cells, chloroplasts create sugars by photosynthesis , using the energy of light to join molecules of water and carbon dioxide . Cells are capable of synthesizing new proteins, which are essential for the modulation and maintenance of cellular activities. This process involves
2145-436: The cell. mRNA molecules bind to protein-RNA complexes called ribosomes located in the cytosol , where they are translated into polypeptide sequences. The ribosome mediates the formation of a polypeptide sequence based on the mRNA sequence. The mRNA sequence directly relates to the polypeptide sequence by binding to transfer RNA (tRNA) adapter molecules in binding pockets within the ribosome. The new polypeptide then folds into
2200-911: The cytoskeleton. In August 2020, scientists described one way cells—in particular cells of a slime mold and mouse pancreatic cancer-derived cells—are able to navigate efficiently through a body and identify the best routes through complex mazes: generating gradients after breaking down diffused chemoattractants which enable them to sense upcoming maze junctions before reaching them, including around corners. Multicellular organisms are organisms that consist of more than one cell, in contrast to single-celled organisms . In complex multicellular organisms, cells specialize into different cell types that are adapted to particular functions. In mammals, major cell types include skin cells , muscle cells , neurons , blood cells , fibroblasts , stem cells , and others. Cell types differ both in appearance and function, yet are genetically identical. Cells are able to be of
2255-493: The earliest self-replicating molecule , as it can both store genetic information and catalyze chemical reactions. Cells emerged around 4 billion years ago. The first cells were most likely heterotrophs . The early cell membranes were probably simpler and more permeable than modern ones, with only a single fatty acid chain per lipid. Lipids spontaneously form bilayered vesicles in water, and could have preceded RNA. Eukaryotic cells were created some 2.2 billion years ago in
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2310-633: The external environment by the cell membrane. In order to assemble these structures, their components must be carried across the cell membrane by export processes. Many types of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have a cell wall . The cell wall acts to protect the cell mechanically and chemically from its environment, and is an additional layer of protection to the cell membrane. Different types of cell have cell walls made up of different materials; plant cell walls are primarily made up of cellulose , fungi cell walls are made up of chitin and bacteria cell walls are made up of peptidoglycan . A gelatinous capsule
2365-470: The formation of new protein molecules from amino acid building blocks based on information encoded in DNA/RNA. Protein synthesis generally consists of two major steps: transcription and translation . Transcription is the process where genetic information in DNA is used to produce a complementary RNA strand. This RNA strand is then processed to give messenger RNA (mRNA), which is free to migrate through
2420-523: The functioning of cellular metabolism. Cell metabolism is the process by which individual cells process nutrient molecules. Metabolism has two distinct divisions: catabolism , in which the cell breaks down complex molecules to produce energy and reducing power , and anabolism , in which the cell uses energy and reducing power to construct complex molecules and perform other biological functions. Complex sugars can be broken down into simpler sugar molecules called monosaccharides such as glucose . Once inside
2475-399: The information necessary to build various proteins such as enzymes , the cell's primary machinery. There are also other kinds of biomolecules in cells. This article lists these primary cellular components , then briefly describes their function. The cell membrane , or plasma membrane, is a selectively permeable biological membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm of a cell. In animals,
2530-432: The microorganisms that cause infection. Cell motility involves many receptors, crosslinking, bundling, binding, adhesion, motor and other proteins. The process is divided into three steps: protrusion of the leading edge of the cell, adhesion of the leading edge and de-adhesion at the cell body and rear, and cytoskeletal contraction to pull the cell forward. Each step is driven by physical forces generated by unique segments of
2585-455: The other differences are: Many groups of eukaryotes are single-celled. Among the many-celled groups are animals and plants. The number of cells in these groups vary with species; it has been estimated that the human body contains around 37 trillion (3.72×10 ) cells, and more recent studies put this number at around 30 trillion (~36 trillion cells in the male, ~28 trillion in the female). All cells, whether prokaryotic or eukaryotic , have
2640-409: The plasma membrane is the outer boundary of the cell, while in plants and prokaryotes it is usually covered by a cell wall . This membrane serves to separate and protect a cell from its surrounding environment and is made mostly from a double layer of phospholipids , which are amphiphilic (partly hydrophobic and partly hydrophilic ). Hence, the layer is called a phospholipid bilayer , or sometimes
2695-427: The progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma . Monoclonal antibodies against CD44 variants include bivatuzumab for v6. CD44 is a multistructural and multifunctional cell surface molecule involved in cell proliferation , cell differentiation , cell migration , angiogenesis , presentation of cytokines , chemokines , and growth factors to the corresponding receptors , and docking of proteases at
2750-443: The same genotype but of different cell type due to the differential expression of the genes they contain. Most distinct cell types arise from a single totipotent cell, called a zygote , that differentiates into hundreds of different cell types during the course of development . Differentiation of cells is driven by different environmental cues (such as cell–cell interaction) and intrinsic differences (such as those caused by
2805-484: The therapeutic potential of anti-CD44 agents. High levels of the adhesion molecule CD44 on leukemic cells are essential to generate leukemia. Furthermore, because alternative splicing and posttranslational modifications generate many different CD44 sequences, including, perhaps, tumor-specific sequences, the production of anti-CD44 tumor-specific agents may be a realistic therapeutic approach. In many cancers ( renal cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are exceptions),
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#17327904870882860-748: The uneven distribution of molecules during division ). Multicellularity has evolved independently at least 25 times, including in some prokaryotes, like cyanobacteria , myxobacteria , actinomycetes , or Methanosarcina . However, complex multicellular organisms evolved only in six eukaryotic groups: animals, fungi, brown algae, red algae, green algae, and plants. It evolved repeatedly for plants ( Chloroplastida ), once or twice for animals , once for brown algae , and perhaps several times for fungi , slime molds , and red algae . Multicellularity may have evolved from colonies of interdependent organisms, from cellularization , or from organisms in symbiotic relationships . The first evidence of multicellularity
2915-641: The v5 exon through alternative splicing was associated with the presence of RNA binding protein KHDRBS1 and became included in the presence of increased YTHDC1 or metadherin expression. In other cases different research groups analyzing the same neoplastic disease reached contradictory conclusions regarding the correlation between CD44 expression and disease prognosis, possibly due to differences in methodology. These problems must be resolved before applying anti-CD44 therapy to human cancers. CD44 has been shown to interact with: Cell (biology) The cell
2970-434: The way, though the sequence of the steps involved has been disputed, and may not have started with symbiogenesis. It featured at least one centriole and cilium , sex ( meiosis and syngamy ), peroxisomes , and a dormant cyst with a cell wall of chitin and/or cellulose . In turn, the last eukaryotic common ancestor gave rise to the eukaryotes' crown group , containing the ancestors of animals , fungi , plants , and
3025-523: Was originally discovered on human hematopoietic stem cells and leukemic blasts, and was subsequently identified on cancer cells. HCELL functions as a "bone homing receptor", directing migration of human hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells to bone marrow. Ex vivo glycan engineering of the surface of live cells has been used to enforce HCELL expression on any cell that expresses CD44. CD44 glycosylation also directly controls its binding capacity to fibrin and immobilized fibrinogen. The protein
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