Cell Responsiveness to Physical Energies: Paving the Way to Decipher a Morphogenetic Code

Author: Riccardo Tassinari1, Claudia Cavallini1, Elena Olivi1, Federica Facchin2, Valentina Taglioli1, Chiara Zannini1, Martina Marcuzzi3, Carlo Ventura1
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> ELDOR LAB, National Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Stem Cell Engineering, National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, CNR, Via Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy. <sup>2</sup> Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy. <sup>3</sup> INBB, Biostructures and Biosystems National Institute, Viale Medaglie d&#x27;Oro 305, 00136 Rome, Italy.
Conference/Journal: Int J Mol Sci
Date published: 2022 Mar 15
Other: Volume ID: 23 , Issue ID: 6 , Pages: 3157 , Special Notes: doi: 10.3390/ijms23063157. , Word Count: 224


We discuss emerging views on the complexity of signals controlling the onset of biological shapes and functions, from the nanoarchitectonics arising from supramolecular interactions, to the cellular/multicellular tissue level, and up to the unfolding of complex anatomy. We highlight the fundamental role of physical forces in cellular decisions, stressing the intriguing similarities in early morphogenesis, tissue regeneration, and oncogenic drift. Compelling evidence is presented, showing that biological patterns are strongly embedded in the vibrational nature of the physical energies that permeate the entire universe. We describe biological dynamics as informational processes at which physics and chemistry converge, with nanomechanical motions, and electromagnetic waves, including light, forming an ensemble of vibrations, acting as a sort of control software for molecular patterning. Biomolecular recognition is approached within the establishment of coherent synchronizations among signaling players, whose physical nature can be equated to oscillators tending to the coherent synchronization of their vibrational modes. Cytoskeletal elements are now emerging as senders and receivers of physical signals, "shaping" biological identity from the cellular to the tissue/organ levels. We finally discuss the perspective of exploiting the diffusive features of physical energies to afford in situ stem/somatic cell reprogramming, and tissue regeneration, without stem cell transplantation.

Keywords: cancer; electric fields; electromagnetic radiation; mechanical vibration; microtubuli; morphogenesis; morphogenetic code; physical energies; regeneration; stem cells.

PMID: 35328576 PMCID: PMC8949133 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063157