Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Tiny cell messengers show big promise for safer protein and gene delivery

Researchers have discovered that vesicles generated from cell-surface protrusions can deliver active proteins and genome-editing enzymes far more efficiently than conventional extracellular vesicles. This natural delivery system may enable the development of safer and more precise strategies for genome editing, regenerative medicine, a...

SourceNara Institute of Science and Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2026

Physicists decode mysterious membrane behavior

Researchers identify packing density as key factor affecting membrane elasticity, offering new insights into homeostasis and cellular behavior. This discovery has significant implications for drug delivery applications and the development of lifelike artificial cells.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 1, 2025

A new mechanism for generation of vesicles that transport molecules and vaccine nanoparticles into living cells

Scientists have identified a biomolecular condensate as the key to initiating endocytosis, a process by which cells absorb nutrients and regulate hormone sensitivity. The discovery sheds light on how membrane buckling occurs and has implications for understanding diseases such as cancers, heart disease, and neuropsychiatric disorders.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 10, 2021

How the pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis secretes and trafficks its only known exotoxin

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham discovered the mechanism of secretion and trafficking of Mycobacterium tuberculosis' toxin TNT, which kills over 1 million people annually. The ESX-4 type VII secretion system plays a crucial role in transporting TNT across cell membranes.

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 24, 2021