Gainesville, Fla. — A team of scientists from the University of Florida and Trinity College Dublin have solved a long-standing biological mysteries surrounding the way the body absorbs keosin, a micronutrient important for brain function and cancer resistance.
Queuosine – pronounced “Cue-o-scene” – is a vitamin-like nutrient that the human body cannot produce on its own. Instead, it must be obtained through diet and intestinal bacteria. Despite its important role in cellular processes, Keosin remained overlooked for decades.
In a study published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers identified the genes responsible for transporting keosin into human cells. This discovery not only bridges the big gap in understanding human nutrition and gene expression, but also opens new avenues for developing treatments targeted at cancer, cognitive health and memory.
“For over 30 years, scientists believed that Keosin’s transporter had to exist, but no one could identify it,” said Valerie de Clecy Laguard, a well-known professor and associate chair of UF’s Department of Microbiology and Cell Science and one of the study’s lead authors. “This breakthrough will allow us to better understand how microbiomes and our diet affect gene translation.”
The identified gene, SLC35F2, has previously been studied for its role in the way viruses and cancer drugs enter cells, but its function in normal human biology has remained unclear up until now.
Queuosine works by modifying transfer RNA (TRNA), a molecule that helps decipher genetic instructions and synthesize proteins. Researchers explain that micronutrients are the body tweaking how DNA is read.
“It’s amazing how small, lesser known compounds play a major role in how our genes are expressed,” said De Cracy Laguard.
Vincent Kelly, a professor at the Department of Biochemistry Immunology at Trinity College, Dublin and co-author of the study, noted the widespread health impact. “We know that keosin affects brain function, metabolism and stress responses. But we didn’t understand how it entered the cells from the intestines – up until now.”
The health relevance of Keo Sin, first identified in the 1970s, has recently begun to attract attention. The study brought together researchers from UF, Trinity College, San Diego State University, Ohio State University, and institutions from Northern Ireland and Ireland.
The project received support from several health agencies, including the US Health Institute in Northern Ireland, Health, Social Care and Research Ireland.
“This discovery is a testament to the power of international cooperation,” said De Cracy Laguard. “Nothing of this would have been possible without our full team.”
