OHSU finds intracellular fluid flows moving proteins
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- Oregon Health & Science University discovered a hidden “wind system” inside cells that creates directional fluid flows moving proteins to the leading edge, challenging the diffusion model.
- Catherine Galbraith observed a dark band of soluble actin at the cell front during a laser‑induced fluorescence experiment, revealing rapid protein transport.
- James Galbraith described the flows as “cellular tradewinds” and explained that cells squeeze at the back to direct material forward, likening it to a sponge.
- Janelia Research Campus provided iPALM super‑resolution imaging that visualized the actin‑myosin condensate barrier separating the flow region, confirming a pseudo‑organelle structure.
- Nature Communications published the study, which suggests the flows may explain why highly invasive cancer cells spread rapidly.
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences funded the research under award R01GM117188, supporting the discovery of intracellular fluid flows.
Why it matters: Cancer researchers gain a concrete mechanistic target—cellular fluid flows—that explain the rapid invasiveness of certain tumors, while drug developers can exploit the distinct flow dynamics to design therapies that block protein transport in malignant cells, potentially slowing metastasis and improving patient outcomes.
