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

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.

Enzyme Fights Mutated Protein in Inherited Parkinson’s Disease
 

Enzyme Fights Mutated Protein in Inherited Parkinson’s Disease

Keywords
DR. MATTHEW GOLDBERG, PARKINSON'S DISEASE, PUBLIC LIBRARY OF SCIENCE, ENYZME, NEUROLOGY, PSYCHIATRY, MUTATED PROTEIN, LRRK2, UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER

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

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/553767/?sc=rsmn

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

Their study, using human cells, provides a focus for further research into halting the action of the mutated protein. One of the most famous carriers of the mutation is Google co-founder Sergey Brin, who wrote about it on his blog in 2008.

“There are currently enormous efforts to identify potential therapies based on inhibiting this mutated protein,” said Dr. Matthew Goldberg, assistant professor of neurology and psychiatry and senior author of the paper, which appears online in the journal Public Library of Science.