{
  "id": 6807615,
  "title": "AI helps find hidden human proteins and reveals what they do",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/ai-helps-find-hidden-human-proteins-and-reveals-what-they-do",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-11T21:40:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-09-ai-hidden-human-proteins-reveals.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A new study published in Nature reveals how artificial intelligence, combined with advanced experimental science, can help discover hidden and unexplored proteins in the human body and understand their functions. Researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center used AI to compare the shapes of over 214 million predicted proteins, searching by three-dimensional structure instead of relying solely on genetic sequences. This new approach led to the discovery of hidden members of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family, particularly a protein called TM184C. TM184C behaves differently from typical GPCRs, with most of it being found inside cells within intracellular vesicles. These vesicles travel along microtubules, the cell's internal highways, and gather in thin projections that connect neighboring cells, acting as bridges for material exchange. When TM184C was disrupted, cells formed fewer connections and showed changes in shape and vesicle organization, suggesting its role in building and managing intercellular conduits. This discovery raises questions about how cells share resources and whether unequal exchanges might lead to competition. The study also highlights the importance of cell-to-cell communication in healthy tissue, where resource sharing may help cells survive stress, and in cancer, where these connections could provide tumor cells with new survival strategies. Understanding the role of TM184C and similar proteins could lead to new insights into cancer communication and potential vulnerabilities.",
  "summary": "New research shows how artificial intelligence, combined with advanced experimental science, can help find \"hidden\" and unexplored proteins in the human body and reveal what they actually do, according to a new study published in Nature.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}