Natural Enzyme Found that Helps Destroy Parkinson’s-Causing Protein

GEN News Highlights, Jun 26 2009, 10:47 AM EST
http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnite...?name=57104626

An enzyme that naturally occurs in the brain, CHIP, helps destroy the mutated protein that is the most common cause of inherited Parkinson’s disease, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found.

Several mutations can affect this protein called leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2), some of which cause Parkinson’s. In its normal form, LRRK2 appears to have multiple sites where other molecules can attach themselves. The current theory is that the mutation the scientists studied leads to increased function of LRRK2, which in turn causes the formation of abnormal clumps of proteins inside brain nerve cells. The cells eventually die from these effects.