{
  "id": 19567923,
  "title": "Fluorescent probes reveal fluid-like barriers inside nuclear pores of living human cells",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/fluorescent-probes-reveal-fluid-like-barriers-inside-nuclear-pores-of",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-11-11T23:20:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-11-fluorescent-probes-reveal-fluid-barriers.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Scientists have discovered that the barriers inside nuclear pores of living human cells behave like a fluid. These barriers control the transport of molecules in and out of the cell nucleus, which houses vital genetic information. The research, conducted by teams from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, the Max Planck Institute for Biophysics, and Wuhan University, reveals that the proteins forming the barrier remain highly mobile, similar to a liquid, within the living cells. This fluid-like nature of the barrier proteins prevents them from hardening or turning into rigid structures, as seen in isolated proteins. The study used fluorescent dyes as probes to measure the dynamics of the proteins in real-time within the nuclear pores of living cells. By comparing these results with an in vitro model, the researchers found that glycosylation—adding sugar groups to the proteins—and the presence of transport receptors were crucial in maintaining the fluidity of the barrier proteins. The findings were then validated through simulations using Europe's first exascale supercomputer, confirming that the main transport occurs near the edges of the pore, rather than at a central plug. This research not only enhances our understanding of basic cellular functions but also provides insights into neurodegenerative diseases, where protein hardening is a common feature.",
  "summary": "Our genetic material is hidden inside the nucleus of our cells, well protected by a double membrane. All molecules wishing to pass through must thread their way through one of several thousand nuclear pores. The scaffold structure of these pores is well known. However, exactly how transport takes place within them has been the subject of much debate. Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University…",
  "key_points": [
    "Nuclear pore barriers behave like fluid, control molecule transport",
    "Proteins remain mobile, unlike isolated counterparts",
    "Fluidity maintained by glycosylation and transport receptors"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}