Through the use of atomic force microscopy, in which a small needle is run over substance in order to measure
its shape and hardness, the nuclear pores of frog eggs were examined. This
method allows for an extremely accurate map of a subject that is too small for
optical microscopy to be used. Using this method, it was determined that the
proteins that exist in the center of the pores tangle over each other to form a
barrier. Due to this, smaller molecules are able to easily fit through these
pores through passive diffusion and reach the inside of the nucleus. However,
larger molecules such as messenger RNA require a chaperone molecule in order to
pass through the barrier. The chaperone molecules are able to lubricate the
barrier inside of the pores and allow these larger molecules to fit through.
I find this article to be interesting
because it shows that there is still much to learn about the cell even though
it has been extensively studied already. However, as technology becomes more
advanced, these minute yet important details about the cell will continue to be
discovered and studied. Research like this is crucial because it can also lead
to the development of new antiviral drugs or better delivery mechanisms for
gene therapy.
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