Publications by authors named "Ryan J Heit"
Article Synopsis
- Huntington disease (HD) is a severe neurodegenerative disorder that results in motor and cognitive decline due to a mutation in the huntingtin (HTT) protein, leading to cell death through protein aggregation.
- Researchers discovered a new modification of HTT called myristoylation, where a fatty acid attaches to a specific fragment of the protein, affecting its cellular behavior and localization, particularly related to autophagy.
- The study suggests that abnormal myristoylation of HTT may play a crucial role in the development of HD by disrupting the normal process of autophagosome production and clearance in cells.
Article Synopsis
- * Researchers developed a plasmid reporter system (pTRAMPP) to find proteins that are myristoylated after translation, identifying seven such proteins, including known examples and new candidates linked to cell death and disease.
- * A specific protein, ctPKCε, was found to be myristoylated post-translationally, leading to its membrane localization and enhanced signaling pathways that promote cell survival during apoptosis, suggesting an anti-apoptotic function.
