Bilkent University National Nanotechnology Research Center\u2019s (UNAM) Asst Prof. Aykut Erba\u015f has uncovered a critical mechanism explaining how the cell nucleus resists external mechanical forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In their paper entitled \u201cPeripheral Heterochromatin Tethering is Required for Chromatin-Based Nuclear Mechanical Response,\u201d the researchers demonstrate that the primary factor responsible for the nucleus\u2019s rigidity is heterochromatin\u2014the densely packed regions of DNA where genes are typically inactive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This discovery is of critical importance for understanding how cells sense mechanical signals and how external forces affect DNA organization within the nucleus. Since nuclear structure and mechanical properties can change in conditions such as cancer, aging and certain genetic disorders, these findings provide a strong foundation for advancing both our understanding of biomechanical aspects of disease and the development of novel therapeutic approaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The work by Asst. Prof. Erba\u015f and his team sheds light on the link between nuclear mechanics and gene regulation, representing a significant step forward at the intersection of biology and materials science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using polymer physics-based computer simulations combined with experimental data, Asst. Prof. Erba\u015f and his team revealed that the physical tethering of heterochromatin to the nuclear envelope enables external forces to be transmitted directly to the chromatin, thereby enhancing nuclear stiffness. As these connections strengthen, the mechanical resistance of the nucleus increases. The study also found that proteins such as HP1\u03b1 contribute to this process, while the more fluid-like properties of heterochromatin\u2014such as those associated with liquid\u2013liquid phase separation\u2014do not play a significant role in nuclear rigidity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The study was published in \u201cNucleic Acids Research,\u201d one of the field\u2019s most prestigious journals, by Oxford University Press. Read Asst. Prof. Aykut Erba\u015f\u2019s full article here: https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/nar\/article\/53\/15\/gkaf763\/8237240<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Bilkent University National Nanotechnology Research Center\u2019s (UNAM) Asst Prof. Aykut Erba\u015f has uncovered a critical mechanism explaining how the cell nucleus resists external mechanical forces. In their paper entitled \u201cPeripheral Heterochromatin Tethering is Required for Chromatin-Based Nuclear Mechanical Response,\u201d the researchers demonstrate that the primary factor responsible for the nucleus\u2019s[Read More…]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9091,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[195,12,193],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bilkentnews.bilkent.edu.tr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9085"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bilkentnews.bilkent.edu.tr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bilkentnews.bilkent.edu.tr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bilkentnews.bilkent.edu.tr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bilkentnews.bilkent.edu.tr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9085"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/bilkentnews.bilkent.edu.tr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9085\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9087,"href":"https:\/\/bilkentnews.bilkent.edu.tr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9085\/revisions\/9087"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bilkentnews.bilkent.edu.tr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9091"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bilkentnews.bilkent.edu.tr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9085"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bilkentnews.bilkent.edu.tr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9085"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bilkentnews.bilkent.edu.tr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9085"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}