Brand new organelles exist in mammalian cell!
The mini mammalian cell organ is called an exclusome. Moreover, it is made of plasmids, which are DNA rings. The team of researchers behind this speculates that it could be the cause of autoimmune disease and will also help understand how nuclei evolved.
Organelles have their own functions and are specialized subunits of the cell. Moreover, the newest of these subunits is the exclusome in the cell plasma. This is unusual because most eukaryotic cells have their DNA packed in the chromosomes in the nucleus.
The exclusome is organized into plasmids. Moreover, some plasmids present in the new organelles originate from outside the cell. Others come from telomeres. These telomeric rings are often present in cancer cells.
Discovery of the Mammalian Cell
The researchers’ discovery of the exclusome suggests that cells can identify foreign DNA and eject it from the nucleus if it is no longer needed. Therefore, the exculsome may be guarding the genetic integrity of cells, which is a protective function.
Ruth Kroschewski from The Institute of Biochemistry at ETH Zurich said in a statement,
It’s one of the key hygiene functions cells perform to protect the chromosomes,
Plasmids that can’t be separated off could theoretically embed themselves in the chromosomes. More likely is that the nuclear plasmid genes of viruses or bacteria are translated into proteins, which disrupts the cell physiology.
Although it seems the exclusomes prevent this, their specific roles are not clear. However, it may be involved in cellular immunological memory. based on KRoschewsku’s hypothesis.
Protein binds with the DNA in cell plasma and triggers the release of inflammatory messenger substances. This, in turn, can kick-start an immune response. Moreover, if this protein binds to plasmids in the exclusome, it may result in a pro-inflammatory signaling cascade. Therefore, it implicates the latest addition to the organelle family in autoimmune disease.
Kroschewski said,
This may well facilitate autoimmune responses such as systemic lupus erythematosus,
The exclusomes are similar to the cell’s nucleus in the sense that both have DNA enveloped in the membrane. It may hint at an evolutionary origin in the nuclei of eukaryotic cells.
Kroschewski said,
features gaps that can be seen in the nuclear envelope only in the early stages of its formation.
Perhaps the exclusome is a first attempt at producing a cell nucleus,
However, currently, these are only theories and the team hopes to get more answers with further research about the mysterious organelle.
