nucleolar stress

Nucleolar stress occurs when the nucleolus, a small structure inside the cell's nucleus responsible for producing ribosomes (the cell's protein factories), is disrupted. This disruption can happen due to factors like DNA damage or cellular stress, leading to impaired ribosome production. As a result, the cell activates protective responses, which may slow down growth or trigger repair mechanisms. Persistent nucleolar stress is linked to aging and diseases like cancer and neurodegeneration. In essence, it’s the cell’s way of responding when its critical machinery for making proteins is disturbed, signaling trouble that needs attention.