Organelles Research & Cell Biology News

Organelle's discovery challenges theory, could alter approach to disease treatment

Researchers have discovered an organelle in a prokaryotic bacterium that is identical to the acidocalcisome found in eukaryotes. The finding suggests a targeted approach to killing disease-causing organisms and challenges the origin of eukaryotic organelles.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateJun 17, 2003

Mechanism believed found that regulates movement within cells

A study by University of Illinois researchers has identified a mechanism that determines whether pigment moves within cells. The discovery reveals that the motor protein is disengaged as a result of phosphorylation during cell division. If confirmed, this finding could lead to new cancer treatments targeting specific mechanisms.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalScience·DateAug 17, 2001

Knockout of cav-1 protein causes loss of a cellular organelle

The study demonstrates a fundamental role of caveolin-1 and caveolae in organizing multiple signalling pathways in the cell. The absence of caveolae impaired nitric oxide and calcium signaling, leading to severe physical limitations in caveolin-1-disrupted mice.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience·DateAug 10, 2001