First high-resolution map of microtubule formation in human cells could aid cancer treatment research. In neurons, microtubules are like "highways" for long-distance transport of cellular molecules.
The discovery lays the foundation for treating many different types of diseases, from cancer to neurodevelopmental disorders. To observe gamma-TuRC as it formed microtubles, the researchers prepared samples at the center of an electron microscope and flash-frozen them in a thin layer of ice to preserve the natural shape.