Mention cholesterol, and most people immediately think of clogged arteries, dietary warnings, or cardiovascular risks. But inside the microscopic universe of the human cell, cholesterol has a drastically different job description as an indispensable cellular lifesaver.
A new study, led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore's (NTU Singapore) Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, reveals how cells rapidly dispatch cholesterol to reinforce their microscopic "recycling centres", preventing them from bursting while breaking down worn-out cellular machinery.
Published in Nature Communications, the findings offer critical new clues into why this vital recycling process breaks down in age-related neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.
