Taste-related protein structure revealed! will provide targets for drugs for the treatment of neurological diseases

The near-atomic horizontal structure of calcium stabilizing regulator 2, which plays a role in taste treatment and reducing brain cytotoxicityPicture: DrWei L?and DrJuan Du Scientists at the Van Andel InstituteVan Andel Institute recently revealed for the first time in the journal Nature the near-atomic structure of calcium stabilization regulator 2 (CALHM 2), a calcin protein that plays a key role in handling taste stimulation and reducing brain cell toxicity by sensing chemical and electrical changes in the surrounding environment, such as changes in taste buds, and then passing information back to the brainThey also help regulate calcium concentrations and beta-amyloid levels in the central nervous systemPrevious studies have shown that abnormal changes in CALHMs, as well as the resulting accumulation of calcium disorders or beta-amyloid proteins, can lead to Alzheimer's disease, stroke and other neurological disordershttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1781-3this is the first time that researchers have been able to visualize such an important protein so clearly, calHM 2's molecular blueprint provides the basis for understanding the wider CALHM family, which could inform future therapeutic developmentsTHIS DISCOVERY IS MADE POSSIBLE BY VAI'S STATE-OF-THE-ART DAVID VAN ANDEL ADVANCED CRYOGENIC ELECTRON MICROSCOPE KITthe shape of proteins is a key factor in determining how proteins function, just as a particular key can only function under a certain lockFor CALHM2, the new image shows a huge difference in structure between being open and suppressing, providing new insights into how proteins work in different situationsImportantly, the team also identified the best drug target areas for proteinsa diagram of the inhibition mechanism induced by the RURthe conformation change between the activation state EDTA-CALHM2hemi(a) and the suppression state RUR-CALHM2(b)references:s1 sia aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad