Cellular Calls: Listening in on Body's Protein "Chatter" May Lead to New Therapies
Wednesday, October 3, 2012 - 06:30
in Biology & Nature
Chemical communication between cells keeps tissues functioning and systems coordinated, but eavesdropping on the conversation is challenging. Now, researchers have developed a technique to identify signaling proteins before they leave the cell. The method could help determine which cells are sending which messages--a useful tool for analyzing the interactions occurring in the mixed populations in tissues. One possible application could reveal the cues that control stem cells--an insight that researchers hope could be applied to healing damaged tissues. [More]