Pinpointing the cause of a neurodegenerative disorder
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is caused by a toxic buildup of the protein Ataxin-1, leading to damage in cerebellar Purkinje cells. Researchers discovered that glutamine repeats in the protein cause toxicity, which can also affect other neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington's and Parkinson's.