Aging Oxidation Drives Brain Proteins Into Harmful Condensates, Study Finds

An international research team, including Martín Hugo from UAB's Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, has discovered how two opposing chemical modifications—sulfenylation and persulfidation—regulate key brain proteins during aging. Published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, the study reveals how oxidative stress causes proteins to form harmful condensates as we age. This breakthrough could have significant implications for understanding neurodegenerative diseases and developing new therapeutic strategies. The findings suggest that understanding these protein modifications may be crucial for preventing age-related cognitive decline and brain damage.