Powerful Antioxidant Found To Play a Key Role in Proper Protein Folding

Researchers at Rockefeller University identified SLC33A1 as an endoplasmic reticulum transporter that helps control glutathione balance.

The ER imports oxidized glutathione and exports reduced glutathione to maintain the oxidizing environment needed for proper protein folding.

This mechanism explains how cells preserve redox conditions in the ER for accurate folding of proteins.

The finding may help shed light on diseases linked to ER stress, including neurodegeneration and cancer.