Biological complexity: how cells move molecules (Introduction)

by David Turell , Friday, July 24, 2020, 00:28 (1370 days ago) @ David Turell

In very special packages:

https://phys.org/news/2020-07-biologists-cells-resources.html

"Florida State University researchers have new insight into the tiny packages that cells use to move molecules, a structure that is key to cellular metabolism, drug delivery and more.

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"Scientists have previously observed cells create vesicles—fluid-filled sacks that move materials within a cell or from one cell to another. They have also observed a protein called clathrin form a cage-like arrangement that made up the outside structure of vesicles.

"But there were still questions about how exactly clathrin forms those structures and what determines the shapes it can take.

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"Using high-powered microscopes, the FSU researchers discovered that another protein, known as an adaptor protein, ties multiple clathrin molecules together in a way that allows those structures to take on different sizes.

"They also showed that the clathrin coat could make a so-called "basket" shape, and one that scientists had thought the protein could not form, showing that clathrin assembly is more complicated than previously thought.

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"'This shows that there are things we don't understand about how clathrin coat assembly is regulated and progresses in cells," Stagg said. "Our hypothesis is that the cargo that vesicles carry has a role in dictating how the coats are made and that explains why we see different structures."

"The ability for cells to form vesicles is essential. It is the main route by which molecules like hormones, proteins and viruses enter cells and move within them. If it stops working, cells can die, or disease can take hold in an organism. (my bold)

"Understanding cellular transport is also important because the process is often hijacked by viruses like influenza or the virus that causes COVID-19 to gain entry to the cell.

"'Understanding the molecular mechanisms of clathrin-based transport is important because it is such a fundamental process," Stagg said. "It touches on so many cellular processes. The better we understand it, the more likely it is that we can manipulate it to do things like stop virus entry, enhance drug delivery inside cells or modulate neurotransmitter levels in the brain, just to mention a few. It's a really exciting time for clathrin research.'"

Comment: Another very complex mechanism to transport molecular product. Note my bold. All biochemists know mistakes happen. None of life's processes are fail-safe despite many safeguard systems in place.