Understanding the busy networks inside our cells can help researchers.
With the help of the Canadian Light Source, a research team led by John Allingham from Queen's University and Hernando Sosa from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine has shed light on a molecule that regulates the intricate networks that give cells their shape
The missing pieces of an important puzzle were found by the team using the CLS and the SEMC.
They are the first group to describe the mechanism of action of a tiny motor protein that allows it to control the structures of microtubule fiber networks.
Dr. John said that the recent paper in Nature Communications shows how this specific type of kinesin motor proteins has developed the ability to use microtubules as tracks for movement.
The cell's cargo is in the right place during cellular division and helps to regulate cellular networks by making sure the microtubule don't grow too long.
A strategy for cancer treatment has been provided by this research. The team is hoping that targeting the Kinesin-8 is able to contribute to anti-cancer treatments.
It could be used to develop a therapy for people with compromised immune systems.
The CLS is an important training environment for Allingham's students.
The CLS platform was worth a lot. The quality of data went up a lot. In a short period of time, we were able to screen a lot of different crystal samples.
More information: Byron Hunter et al, Kinesin-8-specific loop-2 controls the dual activities of the motor domain according to tubulin protofilament shape, Nature Communications (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31794-3 Journal information: Nature Communications
All Rights Reserved © 2024
