Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA; email:
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA; email:
Annu Rev Genet. 2022 Nov 30;56:165-185. doi: 10.1146/annurev-genet-080320-030537. Epub 2022 Aug 17.
Though cell size varies between different cells and across species, the nuclear-to-cytoplasmic (N/C) ratio is largely maintained across species and within cell types. A cell maintains a relatively constant N/C ratio by coupling DNA content, nuclear size, and cell size. We explore how cells couple cell division and growth to DNA content. In some cases, cells use DNA as a molecular yardstick to control the availability of cell cycle regulators. In other cases, DNA sets a limit for biosynthetic capacity. Developmentally programmed variations in the N/C ratio for a given cell type suggest that a specific N/C ratio is required to respond to given physiological demands. Recent observations connecting decreased N/C ratios with cellular senescence indicate that maintaining the proper N/C ratio is essential for proper cellular functioning. Together, these findings suggest a causative, not simply correlative, role for the N/C ratio in regulating cell growth and cell cycle progression.
尽管不同细胞和不同物种之间的细胞大小存在差异，但核质比（N/C 比）在很大程度上在物种间和细胞类型内保持稳定。细胞通过耦合 DNA 含量、核大小和细胞大小来维持相对恒定的 N/C 比。我们探讨了细胞如何将细胞分裂和生长与 DNA 含量联系起来。在某些情况下，细胞将 DNA 用作分子量尺来控制细胞周期调节剂的可用性。在其他情况下，DNA 设定了生物合成能力的限制。给定细胞类型的 N/C 比的发育编程变化表明，需要特定的 N/C 比来响应特定的生理需求。最近的观察结果将降低的 N/C 比与细胞衰老联系起来，表明维持适当的 N/C 比对于细胞的正常功能至关重要。这些发现共同表明，N/C 比在调节细胞生长和细胞周期进程中起着因果关系，而不仅仅是相关关系。
