Science Magazine Podcast

Putting mysterious cellular structures to use, and when brown fat started to warm us up

Jun 6, 2024

Exploring the mysterious cellular structures known as vaults, their potential in delivering cancer drugs and gene therapy. Delving into the evolution of brown fat as a heat-generating organ in mammals and birds. Discussing the unique characteristics of brown fat cells, their role in thermoregulation, and combating obesity. Unveiling the discovery and transcription of old music files with jazz influences and similarities to video game music.

37:51

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Quick takeaways

Cellular vaults may have diverse applications in drug delivery and gene therapy.

Brown fat's evolutionary history sheds light on its role in heat generation.

Exploration of UCP1 in brown fat offers potential for combating obesity and diabetes.

Deep dives

Uncovering the Mystery of Vaults and Cellular Transport

Scientists explore the enigmatic cellular structures known as vaults, originally discovered in the 80s, to understand their function. These common hollow structures have puzzled researchers due to their unknown purpose. Despite their prevalence in eukaryotic cells, including human cells, their function remains elusive. Efforts are being made to utilize vaults for cell entry of substances like drugs and gene therapy.

Intro

5min

Unveiling the Mystery of Cellular Vaults

9min

Exploring the potential of vaults for gene therapy and their mysterious natural function

4min

Evolution of Brown Fat and Body Temperature Regulation in Mammals and Birds

2min

Exploring Brown Fat and Thermoregulation Mechanisms

11min

Uncovering and Transcribing Old Music Files

7min

Despite not having a known function, cellular “vaults” are on the verge of being harnessed for all kinds of applications, and looking at the evolution of brown fat into a heat-generating organ

First on this week’s show, Managing News Editor John Travis joins host Sarah Crespi to discuss mysterious cellular complexes called “vaults.” First discovered in the 1980s, scientists have yet to uncover the function of these large, common, hollow structures. But now some researchers are looking to use vaults to deliver cancer drugs and viruses for gene therapy.

Next, what can we learn about the evolution of brown fat from opossums? Unlike white fat, which stores energy in many mammals, brown fat cells use ATP to generate heat, helping babies maintain their body temperature and hibernators kick-start their summers. Susanne Keipert, a researcher in the Department of Molecular Biosciences at Stockholm University’s Wenner-Gren Institute, talks about when in evolutionary history brown fat took on this job of burning energy.

Finally, this week we are launching our music refresh! If you are interested in what happened to our music—where it came from and how it’s different (and the same)—stay tuned for a chat with artist Nguyên Khôi Nguyễn.

This week’s episode was produced with help from Podigy.

About the Science Podcast

Authors: Sarah Crespi; John Travis

Episode page: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.zpoy92t

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