Researchers at the University of Virginia have discovered a new organelle in human cells, called the hemifusosome. This finding was made possible using cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET), a technique that allows for detailed 3D visualization of cellular structures.
The hemifusosome is about 100 nanometers in diameter, less than half the size of a small mitochondrion. Its exact function is still being studied, but it is believed to be involved in processing and eliminating proteins within human cells.
This discovery could provide insights into neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, which are linked to the improper accumulation of proteins in the brain. The research was published in Nature Communications.