Novel Protein that extends cell’s life
Scientists have discovered a protein that delays cell death, which could aid transplant survival and offer treatment for cancer, neurodegeneration and influenza.
Researchers from St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the US discovered how a set of proteins delays the ‘executioner’ machinery that kills damaged or infected cells in a process called necroptosis.
They knew that the ‘executioner’ in necroptosis was a protein called MLKL. When MLKL is activated by the necroptosis machinery, it triggers a piercing of the plasma membrane surrounding the cell, ultimately killing it.
Researchers showed that plasma membrane could repair itself by forming ‘bubbles’ of broken plasma membrane that would shed from the cell to repair the holes.
Proteins called ESCRT-III was responsible for forming the repair bubbles. The research also revealed that ESCRT-III delayed or prevented necroptosis by repairing breaks in the plasma membrane.
The delay gave the dying cells time to release signals to alert surrounding cells to the presence of a viral infection. MLKL is not a point of no return for cell survival and that ESCRT-III could resuscitate damaged cells, researchers said.
It delays the ‘executioner’ machinery that kills damaged or infected cells in a process called necroptosis