Indian Scientists Discover New Role of Protein p47

Researchers at the S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS) have discovered that protein p47 functions as a “mechanical chaperone”, directly stabilizing proteins under mechanical stress. Earlier believed to be just an assistant to the cellular machine p97, p47 has now been shown to independently bind and refold stretched proteins, as revealed through single-molecule magnetic tweezers experiments. This breakthrough could pave the way for new treatments for diseases such as cardiomyopathies and laminopathies, where protein stability under strain fails. The finding challenges traditional views of protein folding, expanding the understanding of cellular resilience and opening new therapeutic avenues.