Researchers have recently developed a fascinating tool for cells called TimeVaults. These clever cellular structures can gather and store information about a cell’s past activities. This breakthrough could provide insights into complex issues like cancer-drug resistance and stem-cell functions.
TimeVaults are made from special cell components known as vaults. These vaults have been modified to capture messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules, which are crucial for many cellular processes. According to Randall Platt, a biological engineer from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, “This is a major step towards continuously recording transcription in human cells.” He believes TimeVaults will help scientists explore biological mysteries that were previously out of reach.
Cells are always changing, and scientists typically study them in two ways: live observation or tests at a single point in time. Live observation allows for the tracking of a few types of molecules for short periods, while test-tube experiments measure mRNA molecules all at once. For years, researchers have experimented with ‘cell recorders’ using CRISPR technology to document transient events in a cell’s life. However, these methods require scientists to know in advance what they want to study.
In their quest for a more comprehensive approach, a research team led by Fei Chen at Harvard found inspiration in an unexpected place: YouTube. A student discovered Leonard Rome, a biologist at UCLA known for his educational videos about vaults. These structures, despite being abundant in mammalian cells, have puzzled scientists since their discovery in the 1980s.
To harness vaults as TimeVaults, Chen’s team reengineered a vault protein to capture mRNA molecules. By introducing a drug to activate the protein, they could effectively ‘record’ the cell’s activities. This allowed TimeVaults to store mRNA from a human cell line for at least a week without affecting the normal behavior of the cells. Chen noted that the cells seemed perfectly content despite their new ‘load.’
This innovation has practical implications in fields like cancer research. For instance, the team is using TimeVaults to study cancer cells that survive drug treatments—known as persisters. Unlike other cancer cells, these do not have genetic mutations that help them evade targeted therapies. Understanding their behavior could lead to more effective treatments in the future.
As we delve deeper into cellular science, TimeVaults might transform our understanding of biology. This could pave the way for breakthroughs not only in cancer treatment but also in other areas of medical research.
For more information on the research and its potential implications, you can read the full study published in Science.
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Biochemistry,Cell biology,Transcriptomics,Science,Humanities and Social Sciences,multidisciplinary
