The nucleus is a central cellular compartment famous for housing DNA. But it also harbors a collection of lesser-known structures called nuclear speckles.
“If the nucleus is a lake filled with DNA, the speckles are 30 to 50 islands intermingled inside that lake of different shapes, sizes, and textures,” says Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s (CSHL’s) newest Assistant Professor Katherine Alexander. “The big question is why are they there?”
Nuclear speckles are known to affect gene regulation and play some role in health and disease. But exactly what role remains unclear. Alexander, who joined CSHL on August 1, hopes to shed some light on these murky complexes. She’s particularly interested in how speckles may affect the survival rate and drug responsiveness of cancer patients.
“We have all these different types of cancer therapies, but a huge current problem is the balance between benefits and side effects,” Alexander says. “Certain kidney cancers, for example, can respond differently to different therapies depending on how the nuclear speckles look. So, will you do better if you receive this treatment versus another? That’s one thing I’m hoping to explore.”
Over four decades ago, CSHL Professor David Spector linked nuclear speckles to RNA splicing. Now, Alexander hopes to continue that legacy and better define nuclear speckles’ role in health and disease. Her work may one day translate to improved strategies for patient care.
Written by: Luis Sandoval, Communications Specialist | sandova@cshl.edu | 516-367-6826