Cells switch its standby mode under different nutrition condition

Under normal circumstances, cells are usually in a highly active state: in the liquid environment inside the cell, ie the cytoplasm, there are numerous metabolic processes; protein and molecular particles frantically from side to side. However, if these cells do not get enough nutrients and cellular energy content decreased, it will result in the conditon that cytoplasmic pH values ​​decreased significantly, i.e., intracellular acidification phenomenon. At the same time, the cells will go into a "standby mode" and this change can help cells survive. A research team from Dresden, Germany, found that changes in the cells of this standby mode, similar to the cell death process that converts from a liquid to a solid state cytoplasm. Thus, sensitive structures inside the cell are protected.

The standby mode of cells is the result of the cells facing with adverse changes such as undernutrition. In this state, the cell metabolism significantly reduced, resulting in the end of the process of cell growth and division. In extreme cases, these cells have little or no differences with dead cells. But they can revive from this state, and when the environmental conditions are improved, they continue to grow and differentiate.

In this study, under the supervision of Simon Alberti, Munder and his colleagues explored the switch of cells' standby mode switch. They mainly studied the yeast cells and observed the response of yeast cells under the condition of starvation. They found that: when metabolic pathways of the cytoplasm lost energy supply, the speed of movement of organelles and molecular particles gradually slowed down, forming a plurality of large protein molecules and these macromolecular structures are clearly visible under a microscope. Cytoplasm showed consistent changes in response to the environment in undernourished condition. Namely: the high sensitivity of the cells were observed by biophysical methods, changes in the material state observation of cytoplasm - from liquid to solid, until the death of the cells into the stiff state. Facts have proved that, pH value of the cytoplasm under starvation condition would significantly reduce, which is a process that plays a crucial role in the process of cellular changes.

It is worth noting that the difference between sleeping cells and dead cells lies: sleeping cell survival can be reversed, while dead cells can not. When the environment is re-added nutrients, cytoplasmic pH value will rise again, the cytoplasm gradually liquefy solid, then the cells will continue to grow and divide. Munder and his colleagues speculated that the key to the switching of cytoplasm's standby mode is: "There seems to have a special control mechanism and in some environments it will produce the material properties of certain provisions to ensure that the cells are survival." Thus, cells seem to be able to control the metabolism of cells by turning off all processes of ways of life to cheat the environment. Whether this mode is shown in human cells will become the focus of future research.

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