Protein pore
Nuclear pores are protein-lined channels connecting the inner nucleus of a eukaryotic cell with the surrounding cytoplasm—the gelatinous liquid that fills the inside of the cell, giving it shape and protection.
Nuclear pores allows small molecules and ions to freely diffuse into or out of the nucleus, giving passage to critical information and materials for cell functions.
At Sanford Burnham Prebys, Maximiliano D’Angelo, PhD, and Valeria Guglielmi, PhD, are investigating how nuclear pores in cancer cells are different and how these differences contribute to malignancy and tumor development. By better understanding the functions of nuclear pores in healthy and cancerous cells, they hope to develop novel therapies that target the development and progression of cancer at the cellular level.
About the art: Odra Noel is a medical doctor and PhD in basic science, with additional degrees in aesthetics and music. Her silk paintings focus primarily on human biology, often informed by microscopy. Wellcome Collection.