The Sialic Acid-Dependent Nematocyst Discharge Process in Relation to Its Physical-Chemical Properties Is a Role Model for Nanomedical Diagnostic and Therapeutic Tools

Abstract

Formulas derived from theoretical physics provide important insights about the nematocyst discharge process of Cnidaria (Hydra, jellyfishes, box-jellyfishes and sea-anemones). Our model description of the fastest process in living nature raises and answers questions related to the material properties of the cell- and tubule-walls of nematocysts including their polysialic acid (polySia) dependent target function. Since a number of tumor-cells, especially brain-tumor cells such as neuroblastoma tissues carry the polysaccharide chain polySia in similar concentration as fish eggs or fish skin, it makes sense to use these findings for new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in the field of nanomedicine. Therefore, the nematocyst discharge process can be considered as a bionic blue-print for future nanomedical devices in cancer diagnostics and therapies. This approach is promising because the physical background of this process can be described in a sufficient way with formulas presented here. Additionally, we discuss biophysical and biochemical experiments which will allow us to define proper boundary conditions in order to support our theoretical model approach. PolySia glycans occur in a similar density on malignant tumor cells than on the cell surfaces of Cnidarian predators and preys. The knowledge of the polySia-dependent initiation of the nematocyst discharge process in an intact nematocyte is an essential prerequisite regarding the further development of target-directed nanomedical devices for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The theoretical description as well as the computationally and experimentally derived results about the biophysical and biochemical parameters can contribute to a proper design of anti-tumor drug ejecting vessels which use a stylet-tubule system. Especially, the role of nematogalectins is of interest because these bridging proteins contribute as well as special collagen fibers to the elastic band properties. The basic concepts of the nematocyst discharge process inside the tubule cell walls of nematocysts were studied in jellyfishes and in Hydra which are ideal model organisms. Hydra has already been chosen by Alan Turing in order to figure out how the chemical basis of morphogenesis can be described in a fundamental way. This encouraged us to discuss the action of nematocysts in relation to morphological aspects and material requirements. Using these insights, it is now possible to discuss natural and artificial nematocyst-like vessels with optimized properties for a diagnostic and therapeutic use, e.g., in neurooncology. We show here that crucial physical parameters such as pressure thresholds and elasticity properties during the nematocyst discharge process can be described in a consistent and satisfactory way with an impact on the construction of new nanomedical devices.

Differential gene regulation in DAPT-treated Hydra reveals molecular pathways dependent on Notch signalling during interstitial cell differentiation and formation of the oral-aboral axis inHydra

“…This reflected Notch-regulation of a gene module specific to postmitotic nematoblasts that are in the process of capsule formation. In this group we find most genes that have been previously shown to encode structural capsule proteins, such as minicollagens (Engel et al, 2001), spinalin (Koch et al, 1998), NOWA (Engel et al, 2002), nematogalectin (Zhang et al, 2019), N-col15 (Adamczyk et al, 2008), nematocilin (Hwang et al, 2008) and others. Moreover, we find transcription factors like HyPOU (Siebert et al, 2019) and CnASH (Grens et al, 1995).…”

Quantitative Insights into the Contribution of Nematocysts to the Adaptive Success of Cnidarians Based on Proteomic Analysis

“…Our results emphasize the importance of quantitative analyses in the role of novelties in evolution and diversification, providing a basis for reassessing the evolutionary history of many established models, with the potential to substantially improve our understanding of both the mechanistic basis of novel traits and evolutionary processes. The present study and other research on cnidarian structures also play an important role as simple models for basic theories of structural development–beginning with the pioneering work of Alan Turing [ 125 , 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 ].…”

Coelenterate Toxins, Its Pharmaceutical and Therapeutic Effects

“…These are used for nematocyst discharge process. During the nematocyst discharge process, two properties takes place pressure threshold and elasticity which is beneficial with an impact on the construction of new nanomedical devices [43,45] (table 4) (fig. 2).…”