Intracellular transport

Intracellular transport

It is conventional to attribute intracellular movements of macromolecules as well as small solutes to ‘diffusion’. However, the dynamic, self-sustaining organisation of the cell internum and the incessant flux of solvent strongly suggest that non-random processes override the effects of Brownian motion on scales greater than circa 0.1-0.2 microns. TMBG has been involved in a critical (historical and mathematical) re-evaluation of the diffusion concept in biology and has worked towards the establishment of more satisfactory mathematical models for intracellular transport processes.

Although this project is currently “on hold” we intend to return to it.

Main references;

Agutter PS, Malone PC & Wheatley DN (1995) Intracellular transport mechanisms: a critique of diffusion theory. J Theor Biol 176, 261-272. PMID: 7475114

Agutter, PS, Malone, PC & Wheatley DN (2000) Diffusion theory in biology: last bastion of mechanistic materialism? J Hist Biol 33, 71-111.

Agutter PS & Wheatley DN (2000) Random walks and cell size. BioEssays 22, 1018-1023. PMID: 1105647