Scientists at Sabancı University discovered a new and important autophagy protein that controls fundamental autophagy pathways. The discovery was made by Gözüaçık Lab member Seçil Erbil and her colleagues.

Autophagy disorders play a role in a number of severe diseases from cancer to Parkinson's. The discovery may enable novel diagnostic and treatment methods.

A paper was published in the prestigious "The Journal of Biological Chemistry" about the discovery. According to the Eigenfactor score, The Journal of Biological Chemistry is second in Biochemistry after Cell. The journal is a publication of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Erbil S, Oral O*, Mitou G*, Cenk Kig, Durmaz-Timucin E, Guven-Maiorov E, Gulacti F, Gokce G, Dengjel J, Sezerman OU, Gozuacik D. RACK1 is an Interaction Partner of ATG5 and a Novel Regulator of Autophagy. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2016

Seçil Erbil (in front), during an experiment at Sabancı University Gözüaçık Lab