30-Year-Old Mystery Solved: Transporter for "Miracle Nutrient" Discovered

An international research team has achieved a major breakthrough: After decades of research, they have decoded the transport mechanism for queuosine, an essential micronutrient in our bodies.

The results were published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) . The now-identified gene SLC35F2 enables the micronutrient queuosine to travel from the gut into the body's cells.

Queuosine is a "Superhero"

Researchers describen Queuosine as a vital nutrient. Known since the 1970s, this tiny helper is considered a forgotten superhero in our bodies. Queuosine is so crucial for our health that scientists call it a "miracle nutrient." It acts as a quality controller in the body. While our cells produce thousands of proteins daily, queuosine ensures that no mistakes happen. It’s like a proofreader that prevents errors from occurring during the "translation" of DNA.

Important for Memory and Cells

Without enough queuosine, the brain doesn't function optimally. Studies show that when queuosine is deficient, memory and learning ability suffer. With sufficient queuosine, it's easier to remember information, think more clearly, and learn faster.

Queuosine also protects cells from damage. It acts like a bodyguard against harmful changes that could lead to cancer or premature cellular aging.

Because queuosine helps with protein production, it influences practically everything in the human body: metabolism, the immune system, healing processes, and energy production.

How Queuosine Gets into the Body

Human cells cannot produce queuosine themselves, but the bacteria in our gut can. It’s a kind of teamwork: under the right conditions, the "good" gut bacteria produce queuosine, and the body can then use it. So, the healthier your gut flora, the better your supply.

Queuosine is also found in small amounts in various foods. The best source is likely yogurt, though research on this is still in its early stages.

So, queuosine is super important, but how does it actually get into our cells? This mystery puzzled scientists for decades, and now it's been solved. With the SLC35F2 gene, the research team has now discovered how queuosine is transported into cells.

(Yes, this is an AI-generated image. It certainly doesn't look like this in real life. But the two are so happy that the picture simply had to be included.)

Potential Applications in Medicine and Health

The identification of the gene opens up new perspectives in research. Understanding the queuosine transport mechanism could contribute to the development of more precise treatment methods.

In the medical field, the future aims to develop queuosine-based cancer drugs or Alzheimer's prevention supplements. At the same time, there will eventually be diagnostic tools, including simple blood tests for queuosine status, genetic tests for the SLC35F2 transporter type, and precise gut bacteria analyses for optimal self-production of queuosine. There is also potential for scientifically-based anti-aging supplements, as queuosine directly intervenes in protein production and cell repair.

Another goal of the research is to create customized queuosine capsules with precise dosages, which could be personalized based on an individual's SLC35F2 genetic type. Lab studies already show that queuosine supplementation stabilizes protein production in stressed cells. Combination preparations are also being developed that not only contain queuosine but also support the gut bacteria that produce this important nutrient.

How to Promote Queuosine Today

While research is working on precision tools for the future, the body's own queuosine production can already be supported indirectly today.

Scientific studies show that certain gut bacteria, especially Bifidobacteria, actively produce queuosine. These "queuosine factories" in the gut can potentially be promoted by fermented foods that contain high concentrations of these beneficial bacteria. Examples include yogurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, and tempeh. However, scientific evidence of a genuinely increased queuosine production is still limited.

Additionally, prebiotic fibers from foods like onions, garlic, leeks, asparagus, artichokes, Jerusalem artichokes, oats, legumes, and whole grains are good for the gut's bacterial community and therefore likely also indirectly for queuosine production.

An anti-inflammatory diet with less sugar and more omega-3 fatty acids from fish, flaxseed, and walnuts also protects the body's queuosine reserves.

If these foods are not to your liking, you can also promote healthy gut bacteria through exercise. High-dose probiotic supplements with at least 10 billion colony-forming units (CFUs) are also available in pharmacies or stores. Microbiome research recommends rotating different bacterial strains to promote diversity. Bifidobacteria supplements could be particularly effective, as these strains are known to produce queuosine.

Minimize Consumption, Protect Bacteria

Beyond foods or supplements, there are also measures that help the body with its queuosine balance. Stress or lack of sleep, for instance, increase nutrient consumption and thus the depletion of queuosine. It's therefore worthwhile to get enough sleep and reduce stress through meditation or exercise.

Antibiotics can destroy queuosine-producing bacteria, which is another reason why they should be used cautiously and only when truly necessary.

A balanced diet and a healthy gut flora are always desirable, but they could become even more important as a way to promote queuosine and support the body in its fight against diseases.