Super HGF

Why in News?

Researchers at Kyushu University discovered that the sulfur-based compound lipoic acid trisulfide (LASSS) can transform the natural muscle-repair protein hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) into an enhanced version dubbed "Super HGF."

Working of Super HGF

• The Problem with Aging– As we age, HGF suffers from nitration (specifically at amino acid positions Y198 and Y250), which blocks its ability to bind properly to c-met receptors on muscle cells and slows down regeneration.
• The Compound's Role– LASSS directly interacts with HGF, causing a structural change that doubles its c-met receptor binding capacity and makes it highly resistant to age-related nitration.
• Animal Studies– In mouse models tested for muscle atrophy (such as tail suspension tests), pretreatment with LASSS dramatically reduced protein nitration and protected muscle tissue.

Reference

Science Daily| Super HGF