Malcolm Steinberg Explained

Malcolm Saul Steinberg (June 1, 1930 - February 7, 2012) was an American biologist^[1] who proposed the differential adhesion hypothesis as a mechanism explaining cell sorting during embryogenesis and cancer.^{[2] [3] [4] [5]}

Steinberg proposed that when cells form distinct tissues, specific cell-cell adhesion between cells from the same tissue can drive the separation. He further proposed that a difference in level of cell adhesion molecules expression between two cell types was sufficient to drive the separation.^[6] He confirmed these predictions in a model system in which adhesion between cells of a cultured line of mouse cells was controlled by genetic expression levels of cadherin.^[7]

Steinberg pioneered work in characterizing the physical properties of cells and tissues. He proposed that cell-cell adhesion drives tissue rounding up and, comparing tissues to liquids, he proposed that tissues have a surface tension. To measure tissue surface tension, he participated in building a compression device for rounded cell aggregates,^{[8] [9]} and in sessile droplet experiments in which aggregates of cells were centrifuged at 37 degrees until their shapes reached equilibrium.^{[10] [11]}

Later experiments led him to conclude that differential adhesion, and an adhesion gradient, guide the salamander pronephric duct to the cloaca during embryonic development.^[12]

Steinberg completed his BS at Amherst College in 1952, his PhD in zoology at the University of Minnesota in 1956, was a professor of biology at Johns Hopkins University from 1958 to 1966, and transferred to Princeton University in 1966, becoming professor emeritus in 2005.

Notes and References

1. https://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S32/99/46E70/index.xml?section=topstories Obituary
2. Steinberg . Malcolm S. . 1962 . On the mechanism of tissue reconstruction by dissociated cells, I. Population kinetics, differential adhesiveness, and the absence of directed migration . Proc Natl Acad Sci USA . 48 . 9 . 1577–1582 . 10.1073/pnas.48.9.1577 . 13916689 . 221002 . 1962PNAS...48.1577S . free .
3. Steinberg . Malcolm S. . 1962 . Mechanism of tissue reconstruction by dissociated cells. II. Time-course of events . Science . 137 . 3532 . 762–3 . 10.1126/science.137.3532.762 . 13916688 . 1962Sci...137..762S . 29591598 . May 19, 2021.
4. Steinberg . Malcolm S. . 1963 . Reconstruction of tissues by dissociated cells. Some morphogenetic tissue movements and the sorting out of embryonic cells may have a common explanation . Science . 141 . 3579 . 401–8 . 10.1126/science.141.3579.401 . 13983728 . May 19, 2021.
5. Steinberg . Malcolm S. . 1970 . Does differential adhesion govern self-assembly processes in histogenesis? Equilibrium configurations and the emergence of a hierarchy among populations of embryonic cells . J Exp Zool . 173 . 4 . 395–433 . 10.1002/jez.1401730406 . 5429514 . 1970JEZ...173..395S . May 19, 2021.
6. Steinberg . Malcolm S. . 1975 . Adhesion-guided multicellular assembly: a commentary upon the postulates, real and imagined, of the differential adhesion hypothesis, with special attention to computer simulations of cell sorting . J Theor Biol . 55 . 2 . 431–43 . 10.1016/s0022-5193(75)80091-9 . 1207170 . 1975JThBi..55..431S . May 19, 2021.
7. Steinberg . Malcolm S. . Takeichi . Masatoshi . 1994 . Experimental specification of cell sorting, tissue spreading, and specific spatial patterning by quantitative differences in cadherin expression . Proc Natl Acad Sci USA . 91 . 1 . 206–9 . 10.1073/pnas.91.1.206 . 8278366 . 42915 . 1994PNAS...91..206S . free .
8. Foty . Ramsey A. . Pfleger . Cathie M. . Forgacs . Gabor . Steinberg . Malcolm S. . 1996 . Surface tensions of embryonic tissues predict their mutual envelopment behavior . Development . 122 . 5 . 1611–20 . 10.1242/dev.122.5.1611 . 8625847 . May 19, 2021.
9. Davis . Grayson S. . Phillips . Herbert M. . Steinberg . Malcolm S. . 1997 . Germ-layer surface tensions and "tissue affinities" in Rana pipiens gastrulae: quantitative measurements . Dev Biol . 192 . 2 . 630–44 . 10.1006/dbio.1997.8741 . 9441694 . free .
10. Phillips . Herbert M. . Steinberg . Malcolm S. . 1969 . Equilibrium measurements of embryonic chick cell adhesiveness. I. Shape equilibrium in centrifugal fields . Proc Natl Acad Sci USA . 64 . 1 . 1212–7 . 10.1073/pnas.64.1.121 . 5262993 . 286135 . 1969PNAS...64..121P . free .
11. Phillips . Herbert M. . Steinberg . Malcolm S. . 1978 . Embryonic tissues as elasticoviscous liquids. I. Rapid and slow shape changes in centrifuged cell aggregates . J Cell Sci . 30 . 1–20 . 10.1242/jcs.30.1.1 . 649680 . May 19, 2021.
12. Steinberg . Malcolm S. . Poole . Thomas J. . 1981 . Strategies for specifying form and pattern: adhesion-guided multicellular assembly . Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci . 295. 1078 . 451–60 . 10.1098/rstb.1981.0153 . 6117905 . 1981RSPTB.295..451S . May 19, 2021.