Researchers Keep Cancer Cells Out by Blocking the Gate to the Nucleus

Source: Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, September 2020

The nucleus of a cell is centrally important to an organism. It stores and organizes genetic information, while separating and protecting this very important information from the host of other cellular components.

While the nucleus requires this protective isolation, it also needs to communicate with the rest of the cell, exchanging proteins and RNA.

The nuclear pore complex (NPC) is responsible for the protected exchange of components between the nucleus and cytoplasm and for preventing the transport of material not destined to cross the nuclear envelope. Now researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have shown that blocking this channel shrank aggressive tumors in mice while leaving healthy cells unharmed.

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