"The more we understand protein modification and function, the better we understand its central role for human health and disease." elegans contributes significantly to our fundamental understanding of this type of protein modification," said Bingsen Zhang, a graduate student in the Schroeder lab and first author of the study. Protein fatty acid attachment is a critical factor in diseases ranging from cancer to neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disorders, and even infectious diseases. The implications are vast and deeply relevant to human health. elegans," is not just about understanding the inner workings of a tiny worm. The study, titled "Amino acid and protein specificity of protein fatty acylation in C. It also serves as a foundation for further research into how protein function is affected by different fatty acids and their metabolism." "This unexpected finding highlights the link between protein modification and specific fat metabolic pathways. "We were surprised to discover that different amino acids are modified with fatty acids from distinct biosynthetic pathways," wrote Frank Schroeder, a professor at BTI and senior author of the study. Their work is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers, harnessing the power of "click chemistry"-a technique celebrated with two Nobel Prizes in Chemistry-successfully mapped how different amino acids in proteins are specifically modified with various fatty acids. elegans, a microscopic worm that offers a window into fundamental biological processes. Through meticulous investigation using high-resolution mass spectrometry, scientists from the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) have discovered critical patterns of fatty acid attachment in the model organism C. A key player in this modification process is protein fatty acid attachment ("protein fatty acylation"), akin to adding a specialized component (i.e., fatty acids) that allows proteins to anchor themselves to cellular membranes. Just as engines require modifications to optimize performance, proteins undergo " protein modification"-a crucial process altering their function, location, and lifespan. Imagine proteins as tiny engines driving the machinery of life.
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