Alpha 2-macroglobulin acts as a clearance factor in the lysosomal degradation of extracellular misfolded proteins.

ABSTRACT: Proteostasis regulates protein folding and degradation; its maintenance is essential for resistance to stress and aging. The loss of proteostasis is associated with many age-related diseases. Within the cell, molecular chaperones facilitate the refolding of misfolded proteins into their bioactive forms, thus preventing undesirable interactions and aggregation. Although the mechanisms of intracellular protein degradation pathways for intracellular misfolded proteins have been extensively studied, the protein degradation pathway for extracellular proteins remain poorly understood. In this study, we identified several misfolded proteins that are substrates for alpha 2-macroglobulin (α₂M), an extracellular chaperone. We also established a lysosomal internalization assay for α_2<

SUBMITTER: Tomihari A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10050189 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature