The cellular waste management system, formally known as autophagy, plays a vital role in maintaining cellular health and homeostasis. Within the bustling environment of a cell, autophagy serves as the cleanup crew, responsible for removing damaged or unwanted components to ensure the cell’s survival and functionality where proteasome perform an important role.
| Date | April 12, 2024 |
| Source | Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine |
| Summary | Scientists studied nerve cells cultivated in laboratories and mice suggest that the proteasome’s role may extend far beyond its conventional cell cleaning functions. |
If you want to read recent biology news then click here: Cell Membrane Damage Promotes Cellular Senescence.
| Experiment | Observation | Conclusion |
| Seth S. Margolis, Ph.D., associate professor of biological chemistry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, studying nerve cells grown in the lab and mice. | Seth S. Margolis said “Neurons live next to each other for a long time, and they need ways to communicate with each other about what they’re doing and who they are.” | Proteasomes located within the neuronal membrane could assist in refining this communication process within cells. |
If you want to read more such biology news then click these news: How Jellyfish Can Remember Everything Without The Central Brain, Now Paralysis Can Be Recovered By The Grace Of New Research, Why The Spread of Viruses is Increasing Now.
Cellular Waste Management System:
Just like a city needs efficient garbage disposal to keep its streets clean, cells have their own waste management system to ensure proper functioning. The cellular waste management system primarily revolves around a process called autophagy, which literally means “self-eating.” Autophagy is a highly regulated mechanism through which cells degrade and recycle their own components. It serves as a quality control mechanism, ensuring that damaged or unnecessary cellular components are removed and recycled.
Proteasome:
One of the key players in the cellular waste management system is the proteasome, often referred to as the cell’s garbage disposal. The proteasome is a large protein complex responsible for breaking down unwanted proteins into smaller fragments. These protein fragments are then recycled to generate new proteins or used as building blocks for other cellular processes.
See The Structure of Proteasome Here
Additional Functions of Proteasome:
The outcomes of their investigations, published on April 12, 2024 in Cell Reports, indicate that proteasomes might aid specialized neurons in detecting the surrounding environment, transmitting signals to one another, and potentially distinguishing between sensations of pain and itch. This discovery could offer insights into these sensory processes and identify novel targets for addressing pain and other sensory-related issues.
History of the Experiment:
“Proteasomes are more complicated and detailed than initially perceived,” states Margolis. He and his team initially discovered proteasomes within the plasma membranes of neurons in the central nervous system of mice in 2017, which they termed neuronal membrane proteasomes. Since then, they have been investigating how these specialized proteasomes facilitate communication, or crosstalk, among neurons.
Initially, Margolis focused on the central nervous system, which comprises the brain and spinal cord. However, he later collaborated with neurobiologist Eric Villalón Landeros, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in Margolis’ laboratory at Johns Hopkins, whose research is centered on the peripheral nervous system. This network of neurons extends throughout the body, closer to the skin, and is responsible for capturing sensory information from the environment.
Together, Margolis and Villalon Landeros pondered whether proteasomes could also be present in peripheral neurons and, if so, what functions they might serve.
FAQs:
1. What are proteasomes?
These are large protein complexes found in cells that play a crucial role in degrading and recycling unwanted or damaged proteins.
2. How does it work?
It degrade proteins by breaking them down into smaller fragments. This process helps regulate protein levels within cells and removes proteins that are no longer needed or are damaged.
3. Where are it located in cells?
Proteasomes are found throughout the cytoplasm and nucleus of eukaryotic cells. They are also present in the peroxisomes and endoplasmic reticulum, where they perform specific functions.