Soppa et al., gave evidence that prokaryotes/archea are at fast growing stages (mero-)polyploid. So, a long lasting dogma was revised, that prokaryotes are always monoploid.
Also the group shows, that the "overproduced" DNA serves as cell internal phosphate source.
So the question raises, whether polyploid cancer cells also uses DNA as internal phosphate source/storage and whether this strategy ensure an internal phosphate source for i.e. ATP,...-production in "bad times"?
Hi Daniel,
To the best of my knowledge, polyploidy can not serve as internal source of phosphate. I am sure you are aware that polyploidy in cancer cells occurs due to rapid and more or less uncontrollable cell division. Rate of karyokinesis often be higher than rate of cytokinesis. Well, in case if the sytem destroys such cancer cells (let us suppose either through inbuilt capacity or through drugs) and/or through autophagy, there is a possibility of hydrolytic enzymes releasing various monomers/ions etc. including phosphorus. Therefore, we can not equate what is happenning in a prokaryotic sytsem with cancer cells.
this is an interesting possibility that never crossed my mind. I see no reasons why it would not work along with other effects of polyploidy….thanks for sharing the idea
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