[CarolynS]

Protalix protein may protect against Parkinson's

10 November 11 14:52, Globes

The lead author, Prof. Hermona Soreq, a former dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said that different forms of the protein in the brain either inherited or acquired due to environmental factors or toxins, were an important contributor in Parkinson's disease. The protein variant may help drive the brain’s transcription machinery to follow a protective path could lead to new treatment options for Parkinson’s disease.


Protalix's Acetylcholinesterase Demonstrates Potential Role in the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease

CARMIEL, Israel, Nov 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE-AMEX: PLX, TASE: PLX) announced today that a paper entitled: "Adaptive alternative splicing correlates with less environmental risk of Parkinsonism," has been published online in the Journal of Neurodegenerative Diseases. The research includes an investigation of the effect of Protalix's PRX-105 on alternative splicing patterns in the striatum, which may confer protection in Parkinson's disease.

PRX-105 is a plant derived version of the human soluble acetylcholinesterase splice variant R (AChE-R) that is in development for several indications, including a biodefense program and an organophosphate-based pesticide treatment program. Building on prior research supporting a role for disrupted alternative splicing in several neurodegenerative diseases, scientists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel and Protalix BioTherapeutics investigated splicing patterns in pre-clinical models of Parkinson's disease to determine a possible role of AChE-R in the brain's protective mechanisms.