Stem cell nuclei are soft 'hard drives,' study finds

User rating: 4.3 / 5 after 7 vote(s)

A stem cell nucleus flows like a soft plastic. The chromatin fibers are tagged yellow and a dark stripe is painted to help visualize the flow into a micro-capillary. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and the University of Pennsy ...
A stem cell nucleus flows like a soft plastic. The chromatin fibers are tagged yellow and a dark stripe is painted to help visualize the flow into a micro-capillary. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and the University of Pennsylvania

Biophysicists at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered that the nuclei of human stem cells are particularly soft and flexible, rather than hard, making it easier for stem cells to migrate through the body and to adopt different shapes, but ultimately to put human genes in the correct nuclear ˇ°sectorˇ± for proper access and expression.


Full story »
All News summaries from General Science news
All News summaries for October 11, 2007

Landmark study unlocks stem cell, DNA secrets to speed therapies

2 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
In a groundbreaking study led by an eminent molecular biologist at Florida State University, researchers have discovered that as embryonic stem cells turn into different cell types, there are dramatic corresponding ...

Fat-regenerating 'stem cells' found in mice

2 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
Researchers have identified stem cells with the capacity to build fat, according to a report in the October 17th issue of the journal Cell, a Cell Press publication. Although they have yet to show that the cells can ...

Polls may underestimate Obama's support by 3 to 4 percent, researchers say

6 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
(PhysOrg.com) -- Current polls of the presidential election may be underestimating Barack Obama's support by 3 to 4 percent nationally and possibly larger margins in the Southeast and some strongly Republican states, according ...

Unique fossils capture 'Cambrian migration'

6 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
(PhysOrg.com) -- A unique set of fossils indicates that 525 million years ago marine animals congregated in Earth’s ancient oceans, most likely for migration, according to an international team of scientists.

Early planting lets farmers be both mean and green, study shows

6 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
(PhysOrg.com) -- Farmers can be both mean and green when protecting their canola fields from a pesky insect that poses a chronic threat, says a University of Alberta researcher.
Goto Archive PhysOrg Forum Goto Archive Video Goto Archive Editorials Goto Archive Free Magazines Goto Archive Newsletter

News Archive