Engine that drives cell movement `discovered`

New York, Oct 07: Scientists have discovered what they claim is the "engine" that drives cell movement, a major breakthrough which could have widespread implications in the fields of cancer growth, memory and developmental biology.

An international team, led by Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Singapore, has carried out a research and found how a cell assembles its internal machinery required for its movement, the 'Cell' journal reported.

According to the scientists, the discovery is actually fundamental to the understanding of how a cell responds to its external environment.

In fact, in their research, the team has discovered a complex of three proteins that directly regulates myosin, the most common protein found in muscle cells within a cell, thus generating traction force to propel the cell forward.

According to the scientists, this action of the tripartite protein complex may be likened to a spring in a toy motorcar -- when the protein complex assembles and moves backwards within the cell, it resembles the wound up "engine" of the toy car that has been pulled backwards.

Bureau Report