Achievement

Researchers have shown that in healthy cells, a bundled cap of thread-like fibers holds the cells nucleus, its genetic storehouse, in its proper place. Understanding this caps influence on cell and nuclear shape, the researchers say, could provide clues to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancer. The caps role in disease became evident when Shyam Khatau tested cells without the gene to produce lamin A/C, a protein found in the membrane of the nucleus of normal cells but absent in the nuclear membrane of cells from people with muscular dystrophy. Cells without lamin A/C failed to produce the perinuclear actin cap. Khatau, who is pursuing his doctorate in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, is lead author of the journal article.