Discovery of cell symbiosis: Bielefeld researchers reveal secrets of the extracellular matrix!

Discovery of cell symbiosis: Bielefeld researchers reveal secrets of the extracellular matrix!

On August 18, 2025, an international research team, including Bielefeld University, published a groundbreaking study in the journalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences(PNAS). The study examines how cells in a team form complex structures, particularly through the interaction in the extracellular matrix (ECM) produced by cells. The focus of the research was the model organism Volvox carteri, a green alga that consists of around 2,000 cells.

The scientists used a fluorescently tagged ECM protein called pherophorin II to visualize the structures of the ECM. To do this, they used a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM), which enabled a high-resolution image of the ECM. The results showed that pherophorin II is localized at boundary structures of the ECM and the stability of the external structures is maintained despite different proteins produced between cells. Interestingly, the compartments of the ECM follow a mathematical k-gamma distribution.

Dynamic development and self-organization

A key finding of the study is the ability of cells to collectively create stable external structures without the need for direct coordination. This suggests a process of self-organization. The researchers also found that the ECM structures have rounded or polygonal boundaries that change as the algae grows.

The research team consisted of various experts, including Professor Armin Hallmann, Dr. Benjamin von der Heyde and Dr. Eva Laura von der Heyde from Bielefeld University, as well as Anand Srinivasan, Dr. Sumit Kumar Birwa, Dr. Steph Höhn and Professor Raymond Goldstein from the University of Cambridge. This collaborative effort is supported by funding from the Wellcome Trust and the John Templeton Foundation.

The role of the extracellular matrix

The extracellular matrix plays a crucial role in cell communication and interaction. It consists of a heterogeneous basic substance that includes water, glycoproteins, polysaccharides and important nutrients. The main components also include collagens, which form various types of fibers and are present in almost every tissue. This matrix influences not only the properties of tissues, but also cell behavior through interactions between proteins and matrix components.

The study also shows that 54% of the genes in V. carteri are specific to cell types. Two major cell type-specific promoters have been identified: PCY1, which is active in reproductive cells (gonidia), and PFP, which acts in somatic cells. These promoters provide effective molecular tools for genetic manipulation and the study of gene functions within V. carteri.

Overall, the research highlights how important the dynamics of the ECM are for the formation and stability of complex cell structures and opens up new perspectives for understanding multicellularity and cell division.

The original publication, written by Benjamin von der Heyde et al., was published on August 12, 2025 and can be found under the DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2425759122 can be viewed.

For more information about the extracellular matrix please visit Wikipedia.

The study of V. carteri and related organisms could have broad applications in synthetic biology and medical research, such as developing more specific therapies or deepening our understanding of cell behavior.

uni-bielefeld.de reports that scientific findings on the self-organizing ability of cells open up new avenues in biological research.

In summary, the research broadens our perspectives on the complexity of life and sheds light on the interaction of cells in their natural environment.