Driving force behind cellular ’protein factories’ could have implications for neurodegenerative disease

Researchers have identified the driving force behind a cellular process linked to neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's and motor neurone disease. There is still so much to learn about this system, which is incredibly important to fundamental biomedical science Clemens Kaminski In a study published today in Science Advances , researchers from the University of Cambridge show that tiny components within the cell are the biological engines behind effective protein production. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the cell's protein factory, producing and modifying the proteins needed to ensure healthy cell function. It is the cell's biggest organelle and exists in a web-like structure of tubes and sheets. The ER moves rapidly and constantly changes shape, extending across the cell to wherever it is needed at any given moment. Using super-resolution microscopy techniques, researchers from Cambridge's Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CEB) have discovered the driving force behind these movements - a breakthrough that could have significant impact on the study of neurodegenerative diseases. "It has been known that the endoplasmic reticulum has a very dynamic structure - constantly stretching and extending its shape inside the cell," said Dr Meng Lu, research associate in the Laser Analytics Group, led by Professor Clemens Kaminski.