Alanyl-tRNA synthetase, AARS1, is a lactate sensor and lactyltransferase that lactylates p53 and contributes to tumorigenesis. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38653238/)

These scientists studied how a molecule called lysine can be changed in a way that affects how proteins work in cells, especially in cancer cells. They found that a protein called AARS1 can sense another molecule called lactate and use it to change lysine in proteins. This change in lysine affects how a protein called p53 functions in cells. When p53 is changed in this way, it can't do its job as well in stopping cancer cells from growing. The scientists also discovered that a compound called beta-alanine can stop this process from happening, which might help in treating cancer. Overall, the scientists think that AARS1 plays a role in how cancer cells grow by connecting cell metabolism to changes in proteins.

Zong Z., Xie F., Wang S., Wu X., Zhang Z., Yang B., Zhou F. Alanyl-tRNA synthetase, AARS1, is a lactate sensor and lactyltransferase that lactylates p53 and contributes to tumorigenesis. Cell. 2024 May 9;187(10):2375-2392.e33. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.04.002. Epub 2024 Apr 22.