All biological processes in our cells are constantly monitored to prevent the accumulation of defective proteins. In the worst case, such „protein clumps“ can trigger diseases. The synthesis of new proteins is particularly susceptible to errors. Erronous proteins must then be removed by our cells. Until now, it was unclear how exactly this process works. Researchers led by F.-Ulrich Hartl at the MPIB now discovered a new mechanism that can initiate the targeted degradation of defective proteins. The protein „GCN1“ is of crucial importance in this process. The results have been published in the journal Cell.