'Molecular switch' could prevent Huntington's disease

Moderators: Elvis, DrVolin, Jeff

'Molecular switch' could prevent Huntington's disease

Postby chiggerbit » Fri Dec 25, 2009 2:23 pm

Hallelujah!! This is indeed very Merry Christmas news for me! I had a cousin who died several years ago of Huntington's, and now her sister has been diagnosed with it. Between them they have six children. It is very difficult to watch loved ones die of this disease. This is the first piece of scientific news about Huntington's that has given me hope.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8428051.stm

A "molecular switch" that can prevent Huntington's disease from developing has been found in mice.

A US study concluded the mutated huntingtin protein, which causes the disease, could be stopped in its tracks by a subtle chemical modification.

It is hoped the work could lead to much-needed treatments for the inherited disorder.

The study, by the University of California, Los Angeles, is published in the journal Neuron.

It is thought between 6,000 and 8,500 people in the UK have Huntington's disease - a neurological condition that starts to show in mid-life and slowly impairs a person's ability to walk, talk and reason.

Children who have one parent with the condition have a 50% chance of developing it themselves and often it is passed on before people are aware that they have it.

There is no cure for the illness and treatment focuses on managing the symptoms. This finding suggests an exciting new avenue to develop therapeutics for Huntington's disease
Study leader Dr William Yang


Although it is known that a protein mutation underpins the disease, it is not exactly clear how that mutation causes the damage seen in those with the condition.

In the latest study, researchers found a small section of the mutated protein that can be modified by phosphorylation - a chemical process in the body that alters how proteins function.

In mice they found blocking this phosphorylation caused the animals to develop disease symptoms.

But when they tried to mimic the process the disorder did not develop. This research offers an exciting avenue of exploration in the quest to prevent or slow down the disease process
Cath Stanley
Huntington's Disease Association


It follows previous work showing phosphorylation reduced the tendency of the mutant huntingtin protein to form clumps and another study showing it could help cells get rid of the toxic version of the protein.

Study leader Dr William Yang said together the studies suggested a new direction of research into the formation and clearance of the huntingtin protein in the disease process.

"We were surprised to find that subtle modification of only two amino acids in this very large protein can prevent the onset of disease.

"This finding suggests an exciting new avenue to develop therapeutics for Huntington's disease."

Huntington's Disease Association head of care services Cath Stanley said: "Although in the very early stages, this research offers an exciting avenue of exploration in the quest to prevent or slow down the disease process."





Some history of the study of phosphorylation here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphorylation
Last edited by chiggerbit on Mon Dec 28, 2009 3:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
chiggerbit
 
Posts: 8594
Joined: Tue May 10, 2005 12:23 pm
Blog: View Blog (0)

Postby chiggerbit » Fri Dec 25, 2009 11:09 pm

Huntington's is the disease that killed Woody Guthrie
chiggerbit
 
Posts: 8594
Joined: Tue May 10, 2005 12:23 pm
Blog: View Blog (0)


Return to Health

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest