According to the latest reports, experts managed to find the so-called switch that attacks healthy cells. Check out the latest details about this below.
Stopping immunity from attacking healthy cells
Scientists are working hard to understand in more detail the matter and some newly found switch is reportedly able to deactivate a sensor of foreign DNA that could provide essential insight into the matter.
A team from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne discovered an enzyme called cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) which played a significant role in this discovery.
This protein identifies viruses by binding to foreign DNA and triggering a reaction.
It has been established that cGAS requires strict regulation to prevent it from becoming uncontrollable, particularly after it enters the nucleus of a cell.
According to a recent study, a biological switch has been discovered that marks the enzyme for removal in locations where there is no need for an immune response.
“Along with previously defined interactions with nucleosomes, our results provide a complete structural model of the nuclear regulation of cGAS,” write the researchers in their published paper.
Researchers have discovered that during cell division, the nuclear envelope disintegrates, providing easy access for cGAS to reach the DNA that is bundled within. Once there, it binds to nucleosomes, which are units that package DNA, and remains covered by a protein called BAF, waiting to be activated when necessary.
In this study, the team identified a protein complex named CRL5–SPSB3 that marks cGAS as disposable by adding ubiquitin.
This key switch is responsible for deactivating cGAS when it’s not required, such as when there is no foreign DNA threat.
The switch works by preventing the enzyme from attacking healthy cells as they grow, allowing it to exit the picture gently. This ensures that healthy cells are not affected by the enzyme.
