How does a cell's internal structure shift when fat cells develop? This study explores the remodeling of the nucleus and nucleolus during the differentiation of adipose progenitor cells into mature adipocytes, a process known as adipogenesis. It aims to understand how the dramatic reorganization of the cellular architecture, driven by lipid storage, affects sub-nuclear structures. The researchers examined the morphological changes in the nucleus and nucleolus during in vitro adipogenic differentiation of primary human adipose stem cells. They found that cell cycle arrest induces nucleolar structure remodeling, which correlates with reduced protein synthesis. Strikingly, triggering cytoskeletal rearrangements mimics the nucleolar remodeling observed during adipogenesis, suggesting a link between the cytoskeleton and nuclear architecture. These results indicate that nucleolar remodeling is an active, mechano-regulated mechanism during adipogenic differentiation. This highlights a key role for the actin cytoskeleton in shaping nuclear and nucleolar architecture within differentiating human adipose stem cells. This work expands our understanding of the complex interplay between cellular structure and function during cell differentiation, with potential implications for understanding metabolic diseases and developing targeted therapies.
Published in Communications Biology, this article falls under the journal's umbrella of biological sciences. Specifically, the research on cellular remodeling during adipogenesis aligns with the journal's interest in cell biology and the mechanisms underlying cell differentiation.