Cellular transporter protein essential for nutrient absorption in pathogenic fungi may offer new treatment approaches
Researchers have identified a specific transporter protein in fungi that functions like an elevator to move nutrients into cells. This discovery could lead to new treatments for life-threatening fungal infections in humans.
Why it matters
Understanding these protein mechanisms provides a blueprint for developing targeted antifungal drugs, which is critical for treating immunocompromised patients.
edited by Lisa Lock , reviewed by Andrew Zinin
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Add as preferred source UapA-Apo-DDM. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2026). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2513585123 They are the cell's "gatekeepers": specialized proteins, known as transporters, selectively control which substances enter a cell and which do not. Researchers at the University of Münster and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens have investigated these transporters in a specific case: the UapA transporter of the model fungus Aspergillus nidulans. The findings are not only relevant to cell biology but could also offer new approaches to treating fungal infections.
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