Protein Linked to Genetically Inherited Parkinson’s Disease Described in a Study
The goal of the Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s initiative is to support research that will present a path to a treatment for Parkinson’s.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego recently published back-to-back revolutionary studies that describe extraordinary details of a protein associated with a genetically inherited Parkinson's disease.
The study authors developed the pioneering visualizations of "leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 or LRRK2" as seen within its natural environment inside the cell, and the protein's first high-resolution blueprint.
The initiative also called the Aligning Science Across Parkinson's, has announced backing for its next phase. Researchers focus on understanding the basic tools underlining this neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions.
According to reports on the study, ASAP's goal is to support research that will present a path to a treatment for Parkinson's.
The LRRK2 Molecule
Since the discovery of the LRRK2 and associated with Parkinson's disease during the early 2000s, researchers have strongly followed hints about both its form and function.
The three-year grant amounting to more than $7 million will fund studies across three laboratories of the UC San Diego and two other Germany-based labs.
Relatively, the issuer of the grant, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, is ASAP's implementation partner, which contributes as well to the Campaign for UC San Diego.
The new funding extends initiatives at the UC San Diego utilizing "leading-edge cyro-electron microscopy or cyro-EM" to produce formerly undetected views of biologically essential cells and molecules.
According to the study's lead principal investigator, Samara Reck-Peterson, this research aims to "understand the basic cell biology and structure" of this certainly fundamentally essential LRRK2 molecule.
Reck-Peterson also said, if they could find out why the said molecule, when not working, "causes Parkinson's," that's the project's ultimate goal.
When thinking about designing a drug, the lead investigator explained, all the details of the parts should be understood "in order to engineer therapeutics."
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Genes Linked to the Disease
According to Johnn Hopkins Medicine, there is a long list of genes known as contributors to Parkinson's disease, and there may be a whole lot more for discovery.
One of these genes is the SCNA that makes the "alpha-synuclein" protein. In brain cells of those with the disease, this protein builds up in clumps, also known as "Lewy bodies." Mutations in this gene take place in Parkinson's disease's early onset.
Another gene is the earlier-mentioned LRRK2. Meanwhile, mutations in this gene, which is also a protein kinase, have been associated with Parkinson's disease's late-onset.
Of all the inherited cases of the disease, the inheritance patterns vary according to the genes involved. If any of the two genes mentioned is engaged, then Parkinson's disease is possibly inherited from just one parent.
This is also known as an "autosomal dominant pattern," in which one only needs one copy of a gene to be changed or modified for the disorder to take place.
If any of the other genes like PARK2, PARK7, or PINK1 gene gets engaged, it is said to be in an "autosomal recessive pattern," in which one needs two copies of the gene changed for the disorder to occur.
Meaning, the two copies of the gene in every cell have been changed. Both parents have transferred the altered gene but may not have exhibited any indications of the disease.
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Sep 18, 2020 08:20 AM EDT
