Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have discovered how yeast cells sense physical stresses on the membranes that protect them. The finding could lead to new treatments for human diseases that involve membrane damage, such as sickle cell anemia and muscular dystrophy.

The research team, led by bioengineering professor Carolyn Bertozzi, found that yeast cells use a protein called Wsc1 to sense physical stresses on their membranes. Wsc1 is a member of a family of proteins called scramblases, which are known to flip lipids from the inner to the outer leaflet of the membrane.

When the yeast cells are exposed to physical stresses, such as heat or cold, Wsc1 becomes activated and flips lipids from the inner to the outer leaflet of the membrane. This change in the membrane composition causes the cells to become more resistant to the stress.

The researchers believe that Wsc1 could be a potential therapeutic target for human diseases that involve membrane damage. By inhibiting Wsc1, it may be possible to prevent or treat these diseases.

"Our findings provide a new understanding of how cells sense and respond to physical stresses on their membranes," Bertozzi said. "This could lead to new treatments for a variety of human diseases that involve membrane damage."

The study was published in the journal Nature.