• Researchers discover 'Marie Kondo' prote

    From ScienceDaily@1337:3/111 to All on Tue Jul 28 21:30:26 2020
    Researchers discover 'Marie Kondo' protein which aids in organizing
    fruit fly embryos
    Process of 'cleaning up' embryo happens thanks to 'Kondo' enzyme, which removes maternal proteins

    Date:
    July 28, 2020
    Source:
    University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
    Summary:
    Researchers have discovered a protein in fruit fly embryos dubbed
    Marie Kondo, that destroys maternal proteins. Much like namesake,
    author and clutter consultant Marie Kondo, this gene removes
    unnecessary molecules, keeping embryos organized.



    FULL STORY ========================================================================== Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine have
    discovered a protein in fruit fly embryos, dubbed Marie Kondo, that
    destroys maternal proteins. Much like namesake, author and clutter
    consultant Marie Kondo, this gene removes unnecessary molecules, keeping embryos organized.


    ========================================================================== Fertilized egg cells are loaded with maternal molecules that control the earliest steps of embryonic development. A critical stage of development
    is when the embryo destroys these inherited molecules and begins to make
    its own.

    These molecules include proteins and messenger RNAs (which encode
    instructions for making proteins). Existing research had identified how messenger RNAs are destroyed, but how maternal proteins are discarded,
    however, has been unknown.

    According to the study, published in the journal eLife, researchers
    discovered the presence of the Marie Kondo protein by screening ~150
    possible enzymes using a trick where destruction of maternal proteins
    could be seen with fluorescent microscopy. After months of work, they identified the enzyme and gave it the name "Marie Kondo." "Ordinarily,
    when we talk about getting rid of maternal gene products, we tend to
    focus on mRNA, or the coded information for making a protein," says
    Olivia Rissland, assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular
    genetics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and study
    co-author. "However, we don't often talk about destruction of the
    proteins themselves. One implication of our study is that, during
    early stages of development, destruction of maternal proteins might
    be more tightly controlled than we had thought." Rissland says this
    discovery opens the door to more research into embryonic protein
    destruction. "The reason why we started looking at these proteins is
    because they control RNA. Now, we want to see what other proteins are
    destroyed and how protein destruction affects early development, not
    just in fruit flies, but in other animals too." Further information: https://elifesciences.org/digests/53889/an-enzyme-that- sparks-joy

    ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Colorado_Anschutz_Medical_Campus. Original written by
    Kelsea Pieters. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


    ==========================================================================


    Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200728182549.htm

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