New mechanism of antioxidant defense of cells involving coenzyme A

Transcript of scientific report at the meeting of the Presidium of NAS of Ukraine, July10, 2024

Abstract

The report presents the results of research conducted by scientists from the Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine to identify new, hitherto unknown functions of coenzyme A (CoA), one of the key cofactors of numerous metabolic processes in the cell. A new type of protein modification involving coenzyme A, called CoAlation, has been identified. It was proved that CoAlation performs a regulatory function in the cell, affecting the activity and stability of proteins. In addition, under conditions of oxidative or metabolic stress, CoAlation protects proteins from overoxidation and, as a result, prevents their inactivation and degradation, and thus performs an antioxidant function. Protein CoAlation also plays an important role in the pathogenesis of oxidative stress-related diseases, including the development of human neurodegenerative diseases.