P-47 Protein:
Researchers at the S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS) highlighted protein p47’s unexpected ability to act as a “mechanical chaperone.”
- P-47 Protein is a cofactor protein usually known as a helper for the cellular machine p97 (it is a powerhouse involved in moving and degrading proteins).
- It was long thought to be just an assistant known primarily for its role in protein trafficking, degradation, and membrane fusion.
- It is revealed that p47 can enhance the mechanical efficiency of protein extraction from the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) lumen into the cytoplasm.
- P47 stabilizes polypeptides under stress and guiding them through narrow pores, reduces the risk of misfolding and improves the success of protein translocation.
- This finding represents the first direct, single-molecule evidence that cofactors like p47 possess autonomous, force-dependent chaperone-like activity.
- It is found that p47 is not just a passive helper for p97, it can directly stabilize proteins under force, effectively acting as a “mechanical chaperone”.
- The findings suggest that targeting mechanical cofactors like p47 could lead to novel therapeutic strategies for diseases linked to protein instability.
