细胞“穹窿”被部署以监视基因活动

Cellular ‘vaults’ deployed to spy on gene activity Enigmatic protein shells can be engineered to capture messenger RNA made by cells over the course of a week JOHN TRAVIS T he barrel-shaped structures found by the thousands in most animal cells are one of biology’s biggest mysteries. But although researchers haven’t figured out the function of these “vaults,” they now report a new use for the puzzling particles. A team has engineered vaults to scoop up RNA and record nearly all gene activity in groups of cells for up to 7 days, providing an unprecedented look into their past. …