A group of researchers have identified a key protein complex in muscle cells that regulates the body’s response to nutrients and helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels. The researchers focused on the role of this complex, known as LRRC8, in muscle lysosomes. Lysosomes are tiny compartments inside cells that act like recycling centers. The researchers found that lysosomal LRRC8 plays a critical role in governing cellular growth and metabolism. When LRRC8 was disrupted in lab-grown muscle cells, lysosomal function was impaired, weakening how muscle cells responded to nutrients and to insulin. Furthermore, mice lacking lysosomal LRRC8 developed increased body fat, insulin resistance, and poor glucose tolerance — conditions closely linked to type 2 diabetes. This research uncovers a previously unknown connection between LRRC8 lysosomal function in muscle cells and whole-body metabolic health, opening new avenues for understanding and potentially treating metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Dr. Norris from our division was part of the research team and is a co-author on the manuscript. The peer-reviewed findings are published in Science Advances under the title: “Lysosomal LRRC8 complex impacts lysosomal pH, morphology, and systemic glucose metabolism.” The abstract is available on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41004571/.