Scientists from the University of Florida, Trinity College Dublin and other schools have solved a mystery about a tiny nutrient that helps the brain and may protect against cancer.
The nutrient is called queuosine. It works like a vitamin, but our bodies cannot make it. We get it from certain foods and from helpful bacteria in our gut.
Finding the Transport Gene
A new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that a gene named SLC35F2 moves queuosine into human cells. Knowing this could help doctors design new medicines that use the nutrient for memory, learning and cancer control.
"For more than three decades, we guessed there had to be a transporter, but we could not find it," said Valérie de Crécy‑Lagard, a professor at the University of Florida and a lead researcher. "Now we have the key piece of the puzzle, and we can see how diet and gut microbes affect our genes."
How Queuosine Affects the Body
Queuosine helps the cell read DNA correctly. It changes a tiny molecule called transfer RNA, which tells the cell which proteins to build.
"Think of it as a tiny tool that fine‑tunes the way our cells read genetic instructions," explained de Crécy‑Lagard.
Why This Discovery Matters
Before this work, scientists did not know how queuosine got into cells. The SLC35F2 gene was known for letting some viruses and cancer drugs enter cells, but its normal role was a mystery.
Now that the gene is identified, researchers can study how to use queuosine to support brain health and fight disease.
Team Effort Across the Globe
The project involved researchers from the United States, Ireland and Northern Ireland, including the University of Florida, San Diego State University, Ohio State University and several Irish institutions.
"We could not have solved this alone," said de Crécy‑Lagard. "It shows how teamwork across borders can lead to big discoveries."