Actin scaffold in cell nucleus explains survival of cancer cells
Cancer cells are subjected to high mechanical pressure that leads to a rupture of the nuclear envelope when migrating through narrow tissue structures, as in the case of metastasis. DNA would normally leak out in the process, causing damage to the cell. However, researchers at the University of Freiburg’s Cluster of Excellence CIBSS - Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies succeeded in demonstrating that a protective mechanism takes effect at this moment. A fine scaffold of actin filaments forms in the cell nucleus within seconds. The protein actin is a fundamental component of the cell structure. ...