Researchers have engineered cellular "time capsules" named TimeVaults, which are capable of collecting and storing messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules, the molecular products of gene transcription. This development is expected to offer insights into areas such as cancer-drug resistance and stem-cell biology, as well as how historical cellular events influence future cell behavior. The findings were published in Science.
Mechanism of TimeVaults
TimeVaults are derived from natural cellular structures called vaults. The research team modified a vault protein to recognize and link to mRNA molecules, thereby capturing them within the vault structure. The initiation and cessation of this recording process are controlled by treating cells with a specific drug.
Experimental Outcomes
During experiments, TimeVaults successfully captured a portion of the mRNA molecules produced by a human cell line over a 24-hour period, storing these molecules for at least one week. The study indicated that cells containing TimeVaults did not exhibit altered behavior, shape, or size as a consequence of the stored cargo.
Potential Applications
This technology offers an unbiased approach for continuously recording gene transcription in human cells, addressing limitations in previous cell recording methods that typically required pre-selection of events for monitoring. The concept was inspired by cell biologist Leonard Rome's research on vaults. Initial applications by the team include investigating persister cancer cells, which survive drug treatment despite not possessing common genetic mutations for resistance.