Ubiquitin marks abnormal glycogen for destruction to protect the brain, study finds
Researchers at the University of Cambridge and the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology have discovered a previously unknown cellular defense system that protects the brain from abnormal glycogen accumulation, which is linked to severe neurological disorders.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge and the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology have discovered a previously unknown cellular defense system that protects the brain from abnormal glycogen accumulation, which is linked to severe neurological disorders.
The short version
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- In a study published this week in Nature , Professor Felix Randow and colleagues showed that a protein called RNF213 plays a key role in identifying abnormal glycogen.
- RNF213 attaches a small molecular tag called ubiquitin directly to defective glycogen molecules.
What happened
This tag acts like a "dispose of this" signal, triggering a cellular recycling process known as autophagy to sweep away and break down the damaged energy stores. Glycogen is the main form in which cells store glucose for energy.
Why it matters
Its complex, highly branched structure keeps it soluble while allowing cells to rapidly mobilize glucose when energy is needed.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at Phys.org via the links above and below.