The molecular switch that decides a cell’s fate
A new study reveals the critical role of a flexible linker region in a protein called Snf7, a key component of the ESCRT-III cellular machinery. Using cryogenic electron microscopy, researchers found that extending this linker transforms Snf7 from its functional “flat spiral” shape into a non-functional ring structure. This architectural shift prevents the machinery from performing its essential job of pinching off and sealing membranes inside cells, a process vital for forming internal vesicles and other critical functions.
Why it might matter to you:
This work provides a fundamental molecular blueprint for how cells execute membrane abscission, a process with direct parallels in cellular events like cytokinesis and the packaging of cellular cargo. Understanding the precise structural control of this machinery could inform research into cellular quality control mechanisms and disruptions in tissue homeostasis, areas where similar membrane-remodeling events are crucial.
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