Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

The Nucleolus

The Nucleolus

The nucleolus is the most prominent substructure of the nucleus. When it was first discovered, it was considered to be an isolated organelle that forms fibrils and granules. In 1931, the relationship between the nucleolus and chromosomes was first described by Heitz. He observed that the appearance and size of nucleolus varies depending on the stage of the cell cycle. He also noticed constricted regions on different chromosomes clustered together at definite cell cycle stages. These regions,...

The Nucleolus

The Nucleolus

Introduction to Statistical Process Control

Introduction to Statistical Process Control

Statistical Process Control (SPC) is a method used to monitor and control quality within processes, particularly in manufacturing and service delivery, by employing statistical methods. SPC aims to distinguish between natural (common cause) variation and variation due to specific changes or events (special cause), allowing for timely improvements and sustained quality. The control chart, a pivotal tool in SPC, visually displays data over time alongside a central line of upper and lower control...

Transfer Function in Control Systems

Transfer Function in Control Systems

The transfer function is a fundamental concept in the analysis and design of linear time-invariant (LTI) systems. It offers a concise way to understand how a system responds to different inputs in the frequency domain. It serves as a bridge between the time-domain differential equations that describe system dynamics and the frequency-domain representation that facilitates easier manipulation and analysis.
To derive the transfer function, consider a general nth-order linear time-invariant...

Functional Groups

Functional Groups

Functional groups are a group of atoms with characteristic properties, which when linked to the carbon skeleton of a molecule, alter the properties of that molecule. For example, the presence of certain functional groups on a molecule will make them hydrophilic, whereas others will make them hydrophobic. These functional groups are an indispensable part of organic chemistry and important components of biological molecules, such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Each...

Ribosomal RNA Synthesis

Ribosomal RNA Synthesis

Ribosome synthesis is a highly complex and coordinated process involving more than 200 assembly factors. The synthesis and processing of ribosomal components occurs not only in the nucleolus but also in the nucleoplasm and the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells.
Ribosome biogenesis begins with the synthesis of 5S and 45S pre-rRNAs by distinct RNA polymerases. The primary transcripts are extensively processed and modified before they are bound and folded by ribosomal proteins and assembly factors,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Illuminating ribosome biogenesis disorders through structural biology.

RNA biology·2026

Same author

Increased Protein Synthesis With Reduced Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Defines a Specific Adaptation in Pancreatic Acinar Metaplasia.

Gastro hep advances·2026

Same author

Integrated affinity ultrafiltration UHPLC-QE-Orbitrap-MS and molecular docking for efficient screening of aurora kinase a inhibitors from <i>Eomecon chionantha</i> Hance.

Natural product research·2026

Same author

ADAR1 and ADAR2 associate with the RNA exosome and modulate RNA stability.

Nucleic acids research·2026

Same author

Membranes arrest the coarsening of mitochondrial condensates in human cells.

Communications biology·2026

Same author

Beyond Autonomy? Understanding Patient Participation in Contemporary Nursing Care: A Focused Ethnography of Chronic Illness Contexts.

Journal of advanced nursing·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 21, 2026

Author Spotlight: Quantitative Characterization of Liquid Photosensitive Bioink Properties for Continuous Digital Light Processing Based Printing

Author Spotlight: Quantitative Characterization of Liquid Photosensitive Bioink Properties for Continuous Digital Light Processing Based Printing

Published on: April 14, 2023

Controlling the material properties and rRNA processing function of the nucleolus using light.

Lian Zhu¹, Tiffany M Richardson², Ludivine Wacheul³

¹Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|August 11, 2019

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers modulated nucleolar viscoelasticity using optogenetics, finding that a gelled nucleolus alters ribosomal RNA (rRNA) processing. This suggests cells may tune rRNA flux by changing nucleolar material properties.

Keywords:

condensate liquid–liquid phase separation material properties nucleolus transcription

More Related Videos

Supercritical Nitrogen Processing for the Purification of Reactive Porous Materials

Supercritical Nitrogen Processing for the Purification of Reactive Porous Materials

Published on: May 15, 2015

Concurrent Quantitative Conductivity and Mechanical Properties Measurements of Organic Photovoltaic Materials using AFM

Concurrent Quantitative Conductivity and Mechanical Properties Measurements of Organic Photovoltaic Materials using AFM

Published on: January 23, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 21, 2026

Author Spotlight: Quantitative Characterization of Liquid Photosensitive Bioink Properties for Continuous Digital Light Processing Based Printing

Author Spotlight: Quantitative Characterization of Liquid Photosensitive Bioink Properties for Continuous Digital Light Processing Based Printing

Published on: April 14, 2023

Supercritical Nitrogen Processing for the Purification of Reactive Porous Materials

Supercritical Nitrogen Processing for the Purification of Reactive Porous Materials

Published on: May 15, 2015

Concurrent Quantitative Conductivity and Mechanical Properties Measurements of Organic Photovoltaic Materials using AFM

Concurrent Quantitative Conductivity and Mechanical Properties Measurements of Organic Photovoltaic Materials using AFM

Published on: January 23, 2013

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Biophysics

Background:

The nucleolus is a key nuclear structure for ribosome biogenesis.
Its active viscoelastic properties arise from molecular interactions.
The functional impact of these material properties on rRNA biogenesis remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how nucleolar material properties influence rRNA biogenesis.
To modulate nucleolar viscoelasticity using an optogenetic approach.

Main Methods:

Utilized the Cry2olig optogenetic system to control nucleolar viscoelasticity.
Observed changes in nucleolar morphology, molecular mobility, and rRNA processing.

Main Results:

Above a threshold, Cry2olig protein gelled the nucleolus into a low-mobility meshwork.
Gelled nucleoli did not coalesce but allowed small protein mobility.
Specific rRNA processing defects were observed, with accumulation of large precursors and depletion of small ones.

Conclusions:

Nucleolar material properties can be modulated to alter rRNA processing.
Cellular flux of processed rRNA may be actively tuned via nucleolar material properties.
Suggests potential for materials-based therapies for ribosomopathies.