Video Transcript:

Cells need the right kind and amount of proteins to work properly. When a cell accumulates too many proteins, it must find a way to get rid of them.

Like a sorting machine at a recycling plant, cells have built-in mechanisms to look for any damaged or excess proteins.

If the protein meets either of these criteria, the cell can “tag” the protein with a signaling protein called ubiquitin.

The ubiquitin protein tag signals that the unwanted protein is ready to be broken down by specialized internal cellular machinery called proteasomes.

The proteasomes break down and recycle the no longer needed protein into fundamental raw materials, including amino acids, which can then be reused by the cell to build new proteins.

Bristol Myers Squibb is using this knowledge to advance innovative science and bring transformational therapies to patients.Cells need the right kind and amount of proteins to work properly. When a cell accumulates too many proteins, it must find a way to get rid of them.

Like a sorting machine at a recycling plant, cells have built-in mechanisms to look for any damaged or excess proteins.

If the protein meets either of these criteria, the cell can “tag” the protein with a signaling protein called ubiquitin.

The ubiquitin protein tag signals that the unwanted protein is ready to be broken down by specialized internal cellular machinery called proteasomes.

The proteasomes break down and recycle the no longer needed protein into fundamental raw materials, including amino acids, which can then be reused by the cell to build new proteins.

Bristol Myers Squibb is using this knowledge to advance innovative science and bring transformational therapies to patients.