Cancer and brain disease like dementia are caused by mutant proteins in cells.

Protein complexes called proteasome degrade unnecessary or damaged proteins in the body. Proteins increase and mutate when there is a problem with proteasome, causing cancer or degenerative diseases.

However, the complicated structure of proteasome prevents researchers from finding the exact cause of diseases.

In cooperation with the University of California, professor Kim Ho-min at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology discovered the three-dimensional structure and fusion process of the protein complexes for the first time in the world.

The finding will be used to develop new medicines for cancer or dementia.

The achievement was published in the online edition of Nature in May.