The latest research by scientists from the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (MIBMiK) in Warsaw confirmed that muscle-derived exofers may support the reproductive condition. Until now, it was believed that exofers, i.e. large vesicles formed in muscle cells, only excrete damaged, toxic proteins outside. Scientists have proven that they are also involved in the reproductive process – informs the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN).

Polish scientists hypothesized that the formation of large vesicles in order to remove only unwanted cellular components may not be the primary function of exofers. The team from MIBMiK together with colleagues from the International Institute of Molecular Mechanisms and Machines of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences found that worm muscle cells can also produce exofers.

Groundbreaking research is placed on the cover of the August issue of “EMBO Reports” and the News & Views section:
https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.15252/embr.202052071