💎 A trigger agent 🚀 A starter 🧬 A cell starter

nucleator

9.9

A protein that starts the growth of thin structures inside cells

noun
/ˈnjuːklɪˌeɪtər/

Specialized

: nucleador

The cell recruits an actin nucleator to begin forming the new protrusion during migration.

Examples

Researchers discovered a new nucleator that helps organize microtubules in plant cells.
Without a proper nucleator, the assembly of cellular filaments would be much less efficient.
The nucleator is essential for cell division.
In the study, the nucleator facilitated filament growth.
The cell recruits an actin nucleator to begin forming the new protrusion during migration.
Researchers discovered a new nucleator that helps organize microtubules in plant cells.
Without a proper nucleator, the assembly of cellular filaments would be much less efficient.

Surface Forms

nucleator singular

nucleators plural

Morphology

nucleator = nucleate (transparent) = nucle + ate + or

The word 'nucleator' is transparently derived from 'nucleate' by adding the agentive suffix '-or'.

Etymology

Nucleator comes from the Latin word nucleus, which means 'kernel' or 'core'. In biology a nucleator acts like a tiny seed that makes the first 'core' where filaments can grow, so it initiates the formation of cell structures.