Overview

• SLC35B1 has been confirmed as the protein responsible for transporting ATP into the endoplasmic reticulum, resolving a decades-old mystery in cellular bioenergetics.
• High-resolution cryo-EM imaging revealed SLC35B1’s structure and step-wise mechanism, highlighting specific ATP-binding sites critical for its function.
• A CRISPR/Cas9 screen ranked SLC35B1 among top transporters essential for cellular viability, consolidating its role in ER ATP transport.
• Researchers are actively screening small-molecule libraries to identify compounds that modulate SLC35B1 activity, aiming to address ER stress-related conditions like diabetes, cancer, and neurodegeneration.
• This breakthrough demonstrates the power of interdisciplinary research, combining structural biology, genomics, and biochemistry to tackle complex cellular challenges.