A fundamental question of the living condition has always been (???)...

    How do Weak Molecular Forces & Molecular Shape build biological design & form? 
    How do individual groups of molecules assemble into living organisms?  
          
Is there a Fundamental Principle that guides form in biological organization ?
           Some common universal/principle or rule of molecular assembly?
           One often sees recurring patterns of spirals, triangulated forms, & pentagons in
           everything from molecules to viruses to plant flowers - biological forms & shapes*.   
 
           How do molecules join to form larger & more stable structures, often with new & 
           emergent properties…   macromolecules -> organelles -> cells -> organs -> organism 
   
Maybe an answer lies in well known an architectural principle known as  TENSEGRITY...  
    Tensegrity (tensional integrity) is when a structure maintains stability under tension;

 Biological Tensegrity suggests - 
       that the structure of cell's cytoskeleton can be changed by altering the balance
       of physical forces transmitted across the cell’s surfaces and this might result
       in changes in shape and form.  
           for example: cultured cells nuclei on glass [are flat]   vs.   a flexible surface [are round]
                      Donald Ingber’s Tensegrity Model of a Cell*  [Architecture of Life by Don Ingber]
                                                                   
 Tensegrity & Mechanotransduction further suggests – 
      Since many enzymes and other substances that control protein synthesis, energy
      conversion, & growth in the cell may be physically immobilized upon the cytoskeleton,
      changing the cytoskeletal geometry may affect biochemical reactions and even 
      alter the genes, which may be activated & thus proteins may be made.   
  
      Binding a signal molecule (or mechanical stress) to a receptor, which traverses a cell
      membrane into a cell, may cause conformational changes at the opposite end of
      the receptor, which may then trigger a cascade of molecular restructuring inside
      a cell, including reorientation of the cytoskeleton...  some examples
       cell movement* & morphogenesis* &  cyclosis &  mechanotransduction*  [Ingber 2006],  

 
   
  SELF-ASSEMBLY of molecules into organelles and/or cells into tissue 
             is not much different from self-assembly of atoms into compounds. 
                        The shape a molecule assumes is characteristic of the way 
                        the structure as a whole will behave in 3-D space, and maybe  
                        cells respond in a similar way according to rules of Tensegrity

   ► Fully triangulated tensegrity structures, once self assembled, 
          may have been selected for through evolution, because of their
                        their structural efficiency,
                        their high mechanical strength, 
                        their minimal use of materials. and
                        their ability to stabilize structures in a changing environment.

    
  Tensegrity may be a most economical and efficient way to build cell form and structure
                     and therefore was molecularly selected for during cellular evolution ???

 
   a brief SUMMARY of...  shape of molecules & biological activity:
   
       a few fundamental principles of chemistry are essential for understanding
       cellular processes at the molecular level:
  
             1. small molecules are the building blocks of larger molecules...
                          monomers make polymers, make supramolecular complexes, make organelles...
                          figure*
             2.  covalent & non-covalent electrostatic forces control MOLECULAR form and shape...
                          forces of configuration & conformation result in biologically active molecules
                          figure*
             3.  architectural tensegrity may balance the force of tension and compression
                          foster the establishing and ability to change shape and form with cells.  
                          figure*

       more of the details of Biological Activity will be covered under section on METABOLISM (later).
             4. chemical reactions are reversible depending on rate constants & the [P] & [R]
                          figure
             5. the source of cellular chemical energy is the hydrolysis of ATP, as high energy
                          phospho-anhydride bonds are broken by addition of water (hydrolysis).
                          figure

      
                next presentation - Proteomics