Have you ever heard of p62 bodies? Chances are you haven’t, but these mysterious structures found in our cells have a vital role to play in cellular recycling. Scientists have recently made a breakthrough in understanding their function, and the implications are far-reaching.

p62 bodies are found in the cytoplasm of our cells and are known to regulate autophagy, a process by which cells recycle and reuse their components. Until now, the exact role of p62 bodies has been a mystery, but researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have identified a key factor in their functioning.

The team found that a protein called STUB1 binds to the p62 bodies and is responsible for their structure and stability. They also determined that STUB1 interacts with another protein called NBR1, which is thought to play a role in the cell’s recycling process. The findings could open up exciting new avenues of research into how our cells break down and rebuild their components.

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source: Phys.org