January 27, 2016
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| Van Andel Research Institute Professor Gerd Pfeifer (left) (Courtesy photo) |
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A Van Andel Research Institute team's work with a "trash removal" protein could aid in the fight against diseases like Parkinson's.
Van Andel researchers on Tuesday, Jan. 26 released information about their work involving a protein called Tet3FL.
They have discovered it may guard against cell damage and gene mutations that have been identified as risk factors for developing Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases.
The findings were made by a research team led by Van Andel Research Institute Professor Gerd Pfeifer.
Researchers say they can demonstrate how Tet3FL removes damaging molecules from specific genes, keeping them active and the "trash removal" processes working.
The findings are important, Van Andel researchers say, because the protein could be useful in developing treatments involving brain cells.
Brain nerve cells are different from many other cells in the body because they are non-dividing, according to researchers. Other cells, such as skin cells, can divide and "turn over" frequently and, during that process, weed out problems with genes.
The idea is that Tet3FL can somehow be harnessed to help maintain the health of brain nerve cells, possibly guarding against the development of such diseases as Parkinson's.
Pfeifer expects to collaborate with other scientists at the Institute to look at how Tet3FL may offer protection against neurodegenerative diseases.
Parkinson's expert Dr. Patrik Brundin plans to work on the effort.
"These findings open a new avenue to explore potential new ways to prevent and treat diseases like Parkinson's," Brundin said. "I look forward to working with Dr. Pfeifer to further explore how this mechanism could be harnessed to develop new targeted therapies to dramatically improve the quality of life for people with these diseases."
http://health.einnews.com/article/308566323/Jm8R9_H8_Ksf435x
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