After more than 20 years of death, a breakthrough was finally made. Scientists revealed the important functions of these common proteins.

Many years ago, scientists discovered that in various types of eukaryotic cells (including human cells), a class of protein called LanCL is ubiquitous, but its function is still unknown.

This paper was recently published in the top academic journal "Cell", which represents a critical step taken by scientists to understand the importance of this type of protein in eukaryotic cells after more than two decades.

Scientists have long discovered an enzyme called LanC in bacteria that can produce small proteins called lanthipeptides.

"LanCL protein exists in almost all complex organisms, including humans.

In 2015, scientists finally made the first breakthrough in the study of the function of this protein in eukaryotic cells.

Inspired by this discovery, the researchers tested whether the LanCL protein can also bind to kinases in eukaryotic cells.

So in eukaryotic cells, what role does LanCL protein bind to kinase?

▲Removing phosphate groups from kinases can activate them and cause various problems in the body.

Enzyme-mediated damage repair or alleviation, although common in nucleic acids, is very rare for proteins.

When there is abnormally activated kinase in the body, it can cause various problems including cancer.

The importance of these proteins is particularly evident in mouse experiments.

All in all, LanCL can catalyze the addition of glutathione to Dha/Dhb in proteins, thereby driving irreversible C-glutathionylation and inactivating kinases.

Reference materials:

[1] Lai, KY et, al.

[2] Researchers piece together the LanCL puzzle.