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Team channels research into cell function for important disease insights

By Amanda Iannuzzi 3 March 2020 News Comments Off on Team channels research into cell function for important disease insights

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CHIRI-led research recently published in the prestigious Journal of Biological Chemistry examined a specialised channel in the human body that transports proteins inside cells, to provide important insights for our research into age-associated diseases, including cancer.

The research was carried out in our labs by lead author CHIRI’s Dr Carl Mousley, a molecular cell biologist, in collaboration with researchers from CHIRI, Curtin University, Flinders University and the University of Queensland. CHIRI co-authors are Dr Rob Steuart, and PhD students Christopher Witham, Kofi Stevens, Lamprini Baklous and Amy Black who are co-supervised by Carl and Rob.

On average, a third of all proteins made within the body function outside the cell that makes them, for example antibodies and insulin. These proteins are exported out of a cell by a process known as secretion.

As Carl explains, the first step in the synthesis of a secreted protein is their import into a specialised compartment of the cell known as the endoplasmic reticulum.

“This compartment is sealed off from the internal space of the cell, known as the cytoplasm, to ensure that specialised processes can be undertaken that use molecules that may be toxic to the remainder of the cell,” Carl said.

“Secretory proteins are then imported through the specialised channel known as the Sec61 translocon. This channel must be tightly sealed, similar to how a plug seals a sink, to prevent the inappropriate movement of small molecules into and out of the endoplasmic reticulum.”

Carl and colleagues have isolated mutations in the gamma component of this channel that reduce the seal, allowing small molecules to move through it freely and affect cell viability.

With the preliminary findings of the study now published, the CHIRI team hopes to identify disease-associated mutations that have similar effects on cell function relevant to diseases such as cancer and several brain degenerative disorders.

More findings from the research are in the full paper.

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