Protein affected by rare Parkinson's mutation may lurk behind many cases of the disease

Researchers have found that about 3% of Parkinson’s disease cases may be caused by mutations in the gene LRRK2.

As there is normally only a small amount of LRRK2 protein in the cells, it has been difficult to take a closer look at it and understand it better.

In this study researchers tried a new way of looking at LRRK2.

By making the LRRK2 protein glow when it was triggered, researchers were able to see that in the area of the post-mortem brains of Parkinson’s patients most afflicted, there was a significant amount of activity by the LRRK2 protein.

The study indicated the possibility that heightened action of the LRRK2 protein could be associated closely with Parkinson’s disease.

What this means is that drugs coming on stream to address the mutation, could be used to treat more people with Parkinson’s disease. Source.

 

Journal Reference:

Roberto Di Maio, Eric K. Hoffman, Emily M. Rocha, Matthew T. Keeney, Laurie H. Sanders, Briana R. De Miranda, Alevtina Zharikov, Amber Van Laar, Antonia F. Stepan, Thomas A. Lanz, Julia K. Kofler, Edward A. Burton, Dario R. Alessi, Teresa G. Hastings, J. Timothy Greenamyre. LRRK2 activation in idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. Science Translational Medicine, 2018; 10 (451): eaar5429 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aar5429