Scientists find potential treatment for Parkinson’s disease.
OAN’s Abril Elfi
6:31 PM – Wednesday, August 2, 2023
An assistant professor at the University of Connecticut has made an exciting discovery in the field of Parkinson’s disease treatment.
On Tuesday, UConn Health, a branch of the university, announced that Yulan Xiong and her team have uncovered a key mechanism in Parkinson’s disease research.
Parkinson’s disease is typically caused by a gene mutation called LRRK2. This gene plays a role in regulating cell function and transmitting signals.
The mutation in LRRK2 leads to an overproduction of a protein called dardarin, rather than causing it to become deformed. Until now, scientists were unsure of how to control this protein expression due to a lack of understanding of the underlying mechanisms.
In a recent publication in The Embo Journal, Xiong revealed that her lab team has solved this mystery by identifying an enzyme called ATIC, which acts as a regulator for LRRK2, and a potential pharmaceutical treatment.
To find potential candidates for genes that control LRRK2, the researchers conducted a genome-wide search in yeast cells.
Xiong and PhD candidate Qinfang Liu discovered that the enzyme ATIC controls the gene at the messenger-RNA level, which instructs the body on how to build proteins. This was a surprising discovery for the team.
“This was a surprising discovery,” Xiong says. “At the beginning we did a screening, we identified a candidate, and we found that it was targeted at the mRNA level. This is a new discovery for us too.”
The researchers then examined ATIC in human neural cells, as well as fruit fly and mouse models, to understand its impact on Parkinson’s disease. They found that AICAr, a medication that mimics ATIC activity, significantly reduced LRRK2 levels.
“We used a primary neuronal culture to see how those candidates can regulate LRRK2,” Xiong says. “And we found that it can significantly regulate the LRRK2 expression.”
AICAr has shown promise as a therapy for metabolic disorders and cardiovascular illnesses in preclinical studies. However, its usage in treating Parkinson’s disease has been limited due to the blood-brain barrier.
To overcome this hurdle, Xiong and her colleagues are currently modifying AICAr. They are also collaborating with UConn’s Technology Commercialization Services (TCS) to further advance this technology and prepare for clinical human trials.
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