Coenocyte

Coenocyte

A coenocyte is a multinucleate cell. It can result from multiple nuclear divisions without accompanying cell divisions, or from cellular aggregation followed by dissolution of the cell membranes inside the mass. Coenocytes are found in fungi and some protists, such as algae and slime mold. Some plant structures, such as endosperm, are coenocytic as well. Certain animal immune-derived cells may form aggregate cells also, for example the osteoclast cells responsible for bone resorption.

Fungal mycelia in which hyphae lack septa are known as "aseptate" or "coenocytic".

Certain mutations and the activation of certain cell-cycle control genes can lead to bacteria forming "filament-like" cells with multiple chromosomes but without cellular division. These mechanisms or mistakes may lead to a similar structure to a coenocyte, though bacteria do not possess nuclei. This fact has been used in certain synthetic biology applications, for example to create fibers for an organically grown concrete.

See also

Karl Johanssvamp, Iduns kokbok.png Fungi portal
  • Syncytium
  • Dikaryon - temporary cohabitation in one cell of two different nuclei from distinct organisms

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  • coenocyte — [sē′nə sīt΄, sen′əsīt] n. [ COENO + CYTE] 1. SYNCYTIUM 2. a) a mass of protoplasm containing several nuclei formed from an original cell with one nucleus b) an organism of such a mass …   English World dictionary

  • coenocyte — noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary Date: 1897 1. a. a multinucleate mass of protoplasm resulting from repeated nuclear division unaccompanied by cell fission b. an organism consisting of such a …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • coenocyte — n. [Gr. koinos, common; kytos, container] A multinucleate condition of discrete cells resulting from repeated nuclear division unaccompanied by cell fission; giant cell …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • coenocyte — Organism that is not subdivided into cells but has many nuclei within a mass of cytoplasm (a syncytium), as for example some fungi and algae, and the acellular slime mould Physarum …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • coenocyte — coenocytic /see neuh sit ik, sen euh /, adj. /see neuh suyt , sen euh /, n. Biol. an organism made up of a multinucleate, continuous mass of protoplasm enclosed by one cell wall, as in some algae and fungi. [1895 1900; COENO + CYTE] * * * …   Universalium

  • coenocyte — noun /ˈsiː.nəʊˌseɪt,ˈsiː.noʊˌseɪt,ˈsɛn.əˌseɪt/ A cell with multiple nuclei, found in fungi, algae, protists and slime molds …   Wiktionary

  • coenocyte — SYN: cenocyte. * * * coe·no·cyte sē nə .sīt n 1 a) a multinucleate mass of protoplasm resulting from repeated nuclear division unaccompanied by cell fission b) an organism consisting of such a structure 2) SYNCYTIUM (1) coe·no·cyt·ic .sē nə sit… …   Medical dictionary

  • coenocyte — [ si:nəʊsʌɪt] noun Botany a body of algal or fungal cytoplasm containing several nuclei, enclosed in a single membrane. Derivatives coenocytic sɪtɪk adjective Origin early 20th cent.: from Gk koinos common + cyte …   English new terms dictionary

  • coenocyte — coe·no·cyte …   English syllables

  • coenocyte — coe•no•cyte [[t]ˈsi nəˌsaɪt, ˈsɛn ə [/t]] n. dvl mcr a syncytium, esp. one formed by repeated division of the cell nucleus rather than by cellular fission • Etymology: 1895–1900; < Gkkoinó(s)common coe no•cyt′ic ˈsɪt ɪk adj …   From formal English to slang

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