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Originally published by Stockholm University on May 21, 2025 edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan   Scientists reveal how ATP is transported into the ER by the protein SLC35B1. Credit: Surabhi Kokane using Biorender. A team of scientists has answered a long-standing question in cell biology , uncovering h ow the cell's main energy currency, ATP , is transported into the endoplasmic reticulum ( ER ) . Disrupted energy transport could affect diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders . The study, " Step-wise ATP translocation into the ER by human SLC35B1 " published in Nature , confirms that the transporter protein SLC35B1 is the key gateway for ATP entry into the ER . The research , led by David Drew, professor of biochemistry at Stockholm University and located at SciLifeLab , reveals the first structural and mechanistic insight into how ATP enters the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) using the transporter protein SL...

In animals, the molecule automatically reduced blood-sugar levels without causing them to dip too much. Originally published By Diana Kwon , Nature , on 16 October 2024 Crystals of insulin. A new kind of insulin can modify its activity in response to glucose levels in the blood.Credit: Antonio Romero/Science Photo Library Scientists have designed a new form of insulin that can automatically switch itself on and off depending on glucose levels in the blood. In animals , this ‘smart’ insulin 1 reduced high blood-sugar concentrations effectively while p reventing levels from dropping too low . For people with diabetes , controlling blood-sugar levels is a crucial — but demanding — task. Insulin keeps blood glucose in check, helping to prevent the many long-term complications associated with high blood sugar, such as cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, stroke and blindness . A large proportion of the estimated 422 million people with diabetes worldwide require insuli...