OHSU Scientists Discover Internal 'Trade Winds' That Drive Protein Movement in Cells
β’ Oregon Health & Science University researchers revealed a previously unknown system of directed fluid flows within cells that rapidly transport essential proteins to the cell's leading edge, published today in Nature Communications. β’ The breakthrough emerged from an accidental observation during a neurobiology course when scientists used lasers to track protein movement and discovered an unexpected wave of soluble actin being pushed forward rather than drifting randomly through the cell. β’ The discovery fundamentally reshapes understanding of cell migration, cancer metastasis, and wound healing by revealing that cells use active internal mechanisms rather than passive diffusion to position critical proteins.
eurekalert.org
