Improved cell cleaning for protection against diseases and aging processes

Improved removal of cell waste?

For the first time, it has been possible to understand a key process in all human cells that contributes to cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and aging. The research also shows how cells can more efficiently dispose of their cell waste, which can lead to serious health problems over time.

The scientists at the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute have discovered in their recent study how exactly cellular waste is disposed of in the body. The physicians published the results of their study in the English-language journal "Nature Communications".

Our cells have the ability to purify themselves of cell waste. Can this process be improved? (Image: Kateryna_Kon / fotolia.com)

What is autophagy??

The so-called autophagy is used by cells to break down, for example, broken proteins, cell membranes, viruses or bacteria. In order to catch this charge of cell debris, the cells use specialized membranes containing the waste so that it can then be transformed into new parts and energy through a kind of recycling. Without efficient autophagy, cells are damaged by their own defective components, which can contribute to the development of a number of diseases, including diabetes, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's disease.

How cells increase the rate of autophagy?

Cells target various types of cell debris using so-called autophagy receptors, which can bind both the charged cell debris and the entrained membranes. The physicians removed the ability of the autophagy receptors to bind the membranes and found that this did not stop the autophagy process. Instead, the researchers discovered exactly how the process works and how the rate of autophagy in cells can be increased. The process was completely different than previously thought, say the experts. The autophagy receptors did not recruit the membranes, the membranes recruited more autophagy receptors to accelerate the process, explain the physicians. Study author Dr. According to Padman, there are a number of treatments and therapies worldwide that aim to control the activity of these proteins. The proteins work on the latest findings but not as it was previously accepted by experts around the world.

Further research is needed

The cell depleting part of autophagy works hard, but sometimes that's not enough and it's going to be hard to keep up, explain the scientists. For example, if drugs can be developed that target this amplification mechanism, it would help neuronal cells to better manage the build-up of Alzheimer's protein waste. (As)