Glowing proteins enable real-time 3D studies of essential enzymes

Graphical summary. Credit: Nature Chemical Biology (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41589-024-01758-3
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have developed a new tool to use organoid models to study the protein kinase C (PKC) enzyme, which plays a critical role in cell growth, differentiation, and survival. Dysfunction of these proteins has been linked to many human diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, but studying how and when these proteins are activated in different regions of the cell is important. was difficult for scientists.
The study, published Oct. 11 in Nature Chemical Biology, was led by Qi Su, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher, and Jin Zhang, Ph.D., a professor of pharmacy at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. majored in bioengineering, chemistry, and biochemistry at the University of California, San Diego.
New discoveries could help solve this problem and pave the way to new treatments for these diseases.
Researchers have developed new fluorescent biosensors (artificial proteins that change their fluorescence in response to specific conditions) that are highly sensitive to PKC activity, allowing researchers to understand how these enzymes work. You can now observe in real time and in 3D space. Researchers have discovered that different types of PKC specify the parts of the cell where they are active.
But these “signaling regions” can change in response to stimuli, which helps explain why these enzymes are important for a wide range of cellular processes, and which scientists believe may be important for a wide range of cellular processes. This could help us better understand the role of enzymes.
Further information: Qi Su et al, Sensitive Fluorescent biosensors reveal differential intracellular regulation of PKC, Nature Chemical Biology (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41589-024-01758-3
Provided by University of California, San Diego
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