Cells of the same type are strikingly uniform in size, suggesting that cell size is tightly controlled and important for cellular function. Nevertheless, for many decades it has remained unknown how cells regulate their size and whether cell size affects cellular physiology. Recent developments in genome editing and single cell technologies have enabled the discovery of molecular mechanisms underlying cell size regulation. At the same time, it also has been long known that cell size differs drastically between different cell types, raising interesting questions about the roles of cell size in cellular physiology. Indeed, we are just beginning to understand why cells control their size and how this is regulated. Answering these questions requires a detailed understanding of how cell size affects different aspects of cell and tissue physiology to ensure the organism's function.
In this research topic, we strive to present a collection of papers showing specific examples of how cell size affects different aspects of cellular physiology during health and disease, and how cells regulate their size. Notably, some of previous papers mention cell size alterations resulting from genetic manipulations or chemical perturbations, but those alterations are mostly viewed as curious morphological effects that are not further investigated. Indeed, many manipulations that affect cellular function may also affect cell size, but it is rarely evaluated whether the observed functional effects are mediated by changes in cell size. Therefore, by presenting papers that describe effects of cell size on different aspects of cell physiology, we aim to highlight the importance of cell size studies for researchers in seemingly unrelated areas.
We encourage submissions of Original Research, Methods, Review, Mini Review, Perspective, Brief Research Report, and Opinion articles that encompass a wide range of topics related to cell size control in multicellular organisms, including, but not limited to the following:
• Effects of cell size on cell physiology and function: aging, senescence, differentiation, metabolism, biosynthesis, proliferation and other functions
• Roles of cell size in development, tissue structure and function
• Defects of cell size regulation in diseases
• Molecular mechanisms of cell size regulation
• Size-dependent changes in cell structure and organelle function
• Novel methods to explore physiological roles and mechanisms of cell size control
Cells of the same type are strikingly uniform in size, suggesting that cell size is tightly controlled and important for cellular function. Nevertheless, for many decades it has remained unknown how cells regulate their size and whether cell size affects cellular physiology. Recent developments in genome editing and single cell technologies have enabled the discovery of molecular mechanisms underlying cell size regulation. At the same time, it also has been long known that cell size differs drastically between different cell types, raising interesting questions about the roles of cell size in cellular physiology. Indeed, we are just beginning to understand why cells control their size and how this is regulated. Answering these questions requires a detailed understanding of how cell size affects different aspects of cell and tissue physiology to ensure the organism's function.
In this research topic, we strive to present a collection of papers showing specific examples of how cell size affects different aspects of cellular physiology during health and disease, and how cells regulate their size. Notably, some of previous papers mention cell size alterations resulting from genetic manipulations or chemical perturbations, but those alterations are mostly viewed as curious morphological effects that are not further investigated. Indeed, many manipulations that affect cellular function may also affect cell size, but it is rarely evaluated whether the observed functional effects are mediated by changes in cell size. Therefore, by presenting papers that describe effects of cell size on different aspects of cell physiology, we aim to highlight the importance of cell size studies for researchers in seemingly unrelated areas.
We encourage submissions of Original Research, Methods, Review, Mini Review, Perspective, Brief Research Report, and Opinion articles that encompass a wide range of topics related to cell size control in multicellular organisms, including, but not limited to the following:
• Effects of cell size on cell physiology and function: aging, senescence, differentiation, metabolism, biosynthesis, proliferation and other functions
• Roles of cell size in development, tissue structure and function
• Defects of cell size regulation in diseases
• Molecular mechanisms of cell size regulation
• Size-dependent changes in cell structure and organelle function
• Novel methods to explore physiological roles and mechanisms of cell size control