Conserved roles of C. elegans and human MANFs in sulfatide binding and cytoprotection

MANF is a secreted ER stress-inducible protein that protects neurons, pancreatic β cells and cardiomyocytes from cell death under oxidative stress, hypoxic or ischemic conditions. Here the authors show that MANF confers cytoprotection through direct binding to sulfatide followed by cellular uptake in both C. elegans and mammalian cells.