Without this protein, damaged muscle turns to fat and scar tissue
Researchers have discovered that the protein TRF2, typically known for protecting chromosome ends, is vital for muscle stem cell regeneration. Without this protein, damaged muscle tissue fails to repair properly and instead turns into fat and scar tissue.
Why it matters
This finding could lead to new therapeutic approaches for treating muscular dystrophy and understanding cancer biology.
A protein traditionally associated with protecting chromosome ends also plays an unexpected role in helping muscle stem cells remain functional and rebuild injured tissue, according to researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The discovery could guide future research into muscular dystrophy treatments while also offering broader clues about cancer biology.
The study, published in Science Advances , found that TRF2 does much more than shield chromosomes. Within muscle stem cells, it helps preserve the genetic instructions that define the cells and allow them to regenerate muscle after damage.
"For years, TRF2 has been viewed as a protein whose primary job is protecting the ends of chromosomes from damage or corruption," said senior author Foteini Mourkioti, PhD, an associate professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Penn Medicine. "But rather than simply protecting DNA, TRF2 seems to be key to regenerating muscle throughout life."
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