Toronto, October 18 (IANS). A team of researchers led by an Indian-origin scientist has discovered a new function of a protein, which can help treat age-related diseases.
A team at McMaster University in Canada has discovered a new, unknown cell-protective function of a protein that could open new avenues for treating age-related diseases and keeping people healthy as they age.
According to the study published in the Journal of the National Academy of Sciences, cells may make proteins incorrectly, and the cleaning process may be disrupted.
As a result, proteins can stick together, causing harmful deposits that are linked to diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Professor Bhagwati Gupta, who supervised the research, said, “If cells are experiencing stress due to protein accumulation, then the endoplasmic reticulum is signaled to stop making these proteins.”
The research team found that a class of protective proteins called MANFs play a key role in keeping cells efficient and healthy. Earlier studies had shown that MANF helps reduce cellular stress.
The team tried to understand how this happens by studying microscopic worms called C. elegans. They created a system to manipulate the amount of MANF in C. elegans.
The team found that MANF acts on cells in an important way because it helps keep cells healthy and free of clutter by breaking down proteins. Increasing MANF levels also activates a natural cleaning system within cells.
“MANF is present in all animals, including humans,” said Shane Taylor, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of British Columbia. “We are learning fundamental and mechanical details, which can then be tested in higher systems.”
“The discovery of MANF’s role in cellular homeostasis suggests that it could be used to develop treatments for diseases affecting the brain and other parts of the body by targeting cellular processes,” said Gupta. This is done by clearing these toxic clumps in the cells and maintaining their health.”
–IANS
MKS/AS
