Researchers have discovered that the nucleocytoplasmic transport rate is indirectly affected by cell modulation and cell spreading. The findings challenge previous beliefs that protein transport rates are altered by a shift in the size of the nuclear envelope's pores.
In the study, published in the Journal of Cell Biology, researchers from Sanford Research and Texas A&M University discovered that by altering guanosine triphosphate (GTP) availability, cell spreading and modulation alter the nucleocytoplasmic transport (NCT) rate.
"We are unlocking the so-far hidden secrets of cellular function," said Dr. Tanmay Lele, Professor in the biomedical engineering and chemical engineering departments at Texas A&M. "We have found that conditions promoting cell spreading slow down transport, while those promoting cell rounding accelerate the rate of transport."
While an altered NCT rate is considered normal for cell regulation, too much disruption can impact processes such as gene expression and protein synthesis.
"Our finding that the rates of NCT are regulated by naturally occurring fluctuations in the availability of GTP suggests that any conditions that alter cellular bioenergetics, like cancer, may also alter the rate of this transport and point to a role in disease pathology that could be targeted therapeutically," said Lele.
Lele intends to continue exploring how cell shape can influence various cell processes. "The big quest now is to fully understand the biological implications of cell shape-regulated transport," he added.