Overview

• Researchers report that DNA replication stress triggers actin polymerization inside the nucleus, directly causing nuclear hypertrophy.
• Cancer cells in this hypertrophic state showed reduced motility and lower metastatic ability in mouse xenograft models.
• Hi-C analysis revealed shifts in 3D chromatin topology, indicating a structural reconfiguration rather than a simple size increase.
• The study used gene-function screening, transcriptomics, 3D genome mapping and in vivo assays, and was published online Sept. 9 in PNAS.
• The team proposes nuclear structural features as potential diagnostic indicators or therapeutic targets, with clinical validation still needed.