The human body is literally like a society of cells, living somewhat in harmony. Similar to a community of people living in a social structure - interacting, communicating and bonding with each other, cells are not very different. They accomplish this via protein molecules dispersed on the cell surface. To mention a few - signalling molecules like GPCRs (G Protein Coupled Receptor) and RTKs (Receptor Tyrosine Kinase) act like the antennas transmitting information into the cell from the outside; membrane transport channels act like doors, allowing specific molecule to move in or out; cell adhesion molecules like cadherins and integrins, act like bridges connecting the cells to one another, or to the extracellular matrix, and keep the cells in place. There exist hundreds of such proteins on the surface, making them a fully functional unit.
What are stem cells, and what makes them so unique? What are the different types of stem cells, and how have they impacted modern medical science? Here is us answering all your questions about stem cells.
How does the skin seamlessly stretch and expand itself around a growing foetus as pregnancy progresses? The answer lies in the skin proteins - collagen and elastin.
With vaccines being a medical success for over a century now, could we now use the same principle in treating cancer? - The answer is yes.
Chronic pain causes life-long distress in millions of patients worldwide. An upcoming therapeutic strategy called the Scrambler Therapy may provide fresh hope.
