Work by Goldman, Janmey, and colleagues has shown the following about nuclear DNA: a. A cage made of vimentin fibers protects nuclear DNA from stresses such as UV radiation. b. Microfilaments made of actin fibers protects nuclear DNA from stresses such as UV radiation. c. A cage made of vimentin fibers protects nuclear DNA from damage during cell migration d. Microfilaments made of actin fibers protects nuclear DNA from damage during cell migration.
The correct answer is: c. A cage made of vimentin fibers protects nuclear DNA from damage during cell migration.
Explanation:
The cells that undergo migration from one place to the other, like macrophages, neutrophils, monocytes, etc, tend to move through capillaries.
As they move (squeeze) through the fine vessels of the blood or the lymphatic tissue, they need to distort their shape.
While distorting their shape, there are chances that the nucleus that contains the genetic material can get distorted too, thereby causing breakage of the genetic material.
This is prevented by a protective mesh formed by the structural protein called Vimentin, around the nucleus.
The Vimentin protein forms fibres by first forming the Type III intermediate filament structures by the process of homo- and hetero-dimerisation.
