Time shapes the cell

Abstract

Time shapes the cell Dynamics is the essence of life, from the most macroscopic scale of evolution theories or ecology, down to the submicroscopic scale of the molecular mechanisms underlying for instance the activity of enzymes on their chemical target or their mechanical work in our muscles. Thanks to new methods, most phenomena in cell biology must now be reported not only in terms of their biochemistry, but also with a description of their geometric and temporal characteristics using quantitative imaging. This is leading to a dramatic accumulation of data, with little understanding of its deep physiological significance. Based on recent results, we raise here a few questions regarding the possible role of time as a key determinant of the metabolic energy budget, that impacts living cells from the organisation of macromolecular assemblies up to the morphogenesis and stabilisation of tissues.