Articles tagged with Mutant Proteins
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Researchers discovered that all GARS mutations causing CMT type 2D lead to a structural opening in the protein, creating space for other proteins to bind and cause havoc. This finding may lead to the development of drugs targeting this region, offering new therapeutic avenues for the disease.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics discovered a genetic cause of progressive hearing impairment: mutations in the SMPX gene. The disease affects both males and females, although women are usually less severely affected.
Researchers at Lund University have discovered a causal relationship between mutated Huntington's protein and weight gain in mice. The study shows significant changes in the brain's hormone control centre, leading to insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction.
A new study reveals that Huntington's disease protein causes metabolic imbalances in the hypothalamus, leading to increased appetite and weight. The research provides evidence of a causal link between mutant huntingtin expression and metabolic dysfunction.
A study published in Nature Chemical Biology reveals that mutations in the p53 protein lead to protein aggregation, disrupting its protective function. This causes uncontrolled cell growth and tumor formation, highlighting a new mechanism for cancer development.
Researchers have discovered a key role for motor protein myo1c in the development of cochlear hearing loss. The mutant protein's reduced sensitivity to mechanical loads and lower duty ratio contribute to its failure to function properly.
A new study identifies a previously unrecognized mutation in the valosin-containing protein (VCP) gene, which causes an inherited form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The research provides new insight into the disease's underlying pathology and validates the exome sequencing technique for identifying genetic causes.
Most mutations in Salmonella bacterium lead to very small negative effects on growth rate, similar for non-synonymous and synonymous mutations. The study challenges conventional views on how mutations affect organism survival.
A new mouse model created by Japanese scientists confirms the link between mutated beta-synuclein protein and neurodegeneration in diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. The discovery establishes B-synuclein as a potential target for developing new therapies.
UMMS researchers discovered a common link between familial ALS and sporadic ALS, suggesting that the SOD1 gene plays a role in both forms of the disease. The study found that an oxidized form of the SOD1 protein shared characteristics with the mutant SOD1 protein found in familial ALS.
A recent study by Université de Montréal researchers has identified the KCNK18 gene as a key player in common migraines. The mutation disrupts TRESK protein function, altering electrical activity in nerve cells and increasing migraine risk. This finding may lead to new treatment options for people suffering from recurrent headaches.
Researchers identified how human mutant 'huntingtin' proteins form into large clumps, killing brain cells and leading to progressive Huntington's disease. The discovery reveals that these clusters place a steady stress on cells over time, providing potential targets for targeted treatments.
Researchers have discovered a domino effect in protein complexes that contribute to neurodegenerative diseases. The study, led by Dr. Aitor Hierro, reveals reduced levels of mutated protein Vps54 disrupt the GARP complex, leading to motorneurodegeneration.
Researchers have identified biomarkers for life-threatening conditions in preterm infants, such as late-onset septicemia and necrotizing enterocolitis. Additionally, studies on leptin's role in childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes have shed light on the importance of hypothalamic signaling in preventing obesity development, while also...
Researchers discovered a specific mutation that promotes fibril development, leading to organ damage and death. The study suggests this finding could be a target for future drug development in treating the fatal condition.
Researchers at UCSF have created a transgenic mouse model that displays the earliest signs of Parkinson's disease, including constipation and gastrointestinal problems. The model is significant as it validates a theory suggesting the neurological component of Parkinson's is a late-stage effect of a larger systemic problem.
Researchers at Scripps Research and GNF identify a region of TRPV1 protein that enables temperature sensitivity, shedding light on how temperature receptors work in the human body. The findings could lead to new therapies for conditions such as inflammatory pain.
Researchers at the University of Western Ontario have identified a protective pathway in the brain that may help explain why symptoms of Huntington's disease appear later in life. This finding could lead to new treatments for the devastating genetic disorder, which is caused by cell death in specific brain regions.
Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center found that proteosome inhibitors can rescue mutant proteins by increasing levels of Hsp70, a chaperone protein. This approach may be used to treat debilitating genetic diseases, transforming them into more manageable conditions.
Researchers found that mislocation of TDP-43 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm causes neurodegeneration associated with ALS and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. The study used a model system to investigate the effects of mutant TDP-43 on neurons.
Researchers discovered a molecular switch that prevents Huntington's disease from developing in mice, providing new hope for treating the genetic disorder. The study suggests that phosphorylation of specific amino acids near the huntingtin protein can prevent the onset of symptoms.
Two studies found that small changes to a protein's chemistry can eliminate signs of Huntington's disease in mice. Researchers identified two amino acids critical for regulating the toxic protein, suggesting potential targets for drug therapy.
Researchers identified a key molecular switch that drives the onset of Huntington's disease, an incurable neurodegenerative disorder. A subtle change in two amino acids reduced the pathogenic potential of the mutant protein, potentially leading to new treatment strategies.
A Scripps Research Institute team restored partial function to lung cells collected from patients with cystic fibrosis, opening a door to new therapies for this and other chronic diseases. The breakthrough uses a compound called suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) to correct protein misfolding.
Researchers have discovered a new genetic cause of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) type 5, a fatal immune disorder. The condition is caused by mutations in the Munc18-2 gene, leading to impaired release of death-inducing molecules from immune cells.
Researchers at the University of Oregon have found that evolution can only go forward, as genetic mutations block paths to ancestral genes. The team resurrected ancient proteins and manipulated them to study reverse evolution, discovering that restrictive mutations act like an evolutionary ratchet, preventing reversal.
Mutations in the PTRF gene have been found to cause a form of muscular dystrophy with generalized lipodystrophy. The disease is characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness and deficiency of caveolin-3 protein.
Researchers at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem discovered a promising approach to treat Alzheimer's disease in individuals with a mutated gene that accelerates disease progression. They found that the mutated enzyme protein damages its protective tail, leading to increased risk and rapid disease progression.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified a protein called CHIP that binds to the mutated protein LRRK2, promoting its breakdown. This finding provides a potential therapeutic target for treatments to halt the action of the mutated protein.
Researchers created short lengths of molecules that resemble ribonucleic acid to bind to CAG repeats, preventing cells from creating abnormal proteins. These compounds were effective against Huntington's and Machado-Joseph diseases, but further tweaking is needed to minimize effects on normal proteins.
Researchers from USC have discovered a potential treatment for Huntington's disease using gene therapy. They found that over-expressing the RCAN1-1L gene can rescue cells from the toxic effects of the disease. This breakthrough offers new avenues for treatment and may have implications for other CAG repeat-related diseases.
Researchers found that synonymous mutations determine mRNA folding, influencing protein levels, and identified a class of mutations slowing bacterial growth. This study improves the design of therapeutic genes by optimizing protein production while maintaining cell health.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital discovered a strategy to remove abnormal huntingtin protein from brain cells, accelerating its breakdown and removal through normal cellular processes. This finding could lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative disorders like Huntington's, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's diseases.
Fox Chase researchers have shown that manipulating the amount of Hsp70 can restore function to mutated proteins, which could potentially reduce severity or correct certain hereditary diseases. By modifying the chaperone environment, they hope to give Hsp70 better opportunities to rescue broken proteins.
A recent study found that humans actively changed the coats of domestic animals through selective breeding, leading to diverse coat colors and patterns. The researchers discovered that domestic pigs with rare genetic mutations had altered proteins, while wild pigs lacked such changes due to rapid selection by predators.
Researchers at Erasmus Medical Center have identified a new genetic cause of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), also known as 'Boy in the bubble syndrome'. A mutation in the DNA-PKcs gene is found to be responsible for the disease, leading to impaired T cell and B cell development.
A mouse model study reveals that a mutated Hoxd13 protein directly induces extra digits and indirectly promotes cartilage formation, leading to syndpolydactyly. Intrauterine treatment with retinoic acid restores normal digit formation.
Researchers have identified a new genetic cause of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), also known as 'Boy in the bubble syndrome'. A mutation in the DNA-PKcs gene has been found to be associated with T-B SCID, where patients lack both T and B cells. Further analysis revealed that the mutant protein retained kinase activity but was...
Scientists at Oxford University created a mouse model of neonatal diabetes that mimics the human condition, showing the V59M mutant Kir6.2 protein disrupts insulin production and leads to increased blood glucose levels.
Researchers at IRB Barcelona and ICIQ have designed a compound that can stabilize the p53 protein, even when it has mutations that promote cancer. The study opens up a new approach for developing anti-tumor drugs.
Researchers found that both farnesylated and non-farnesylated progerin can cause symptoms of Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS), a rare childhood disorder resembling premature aging. The study uses a new mouse model to challenge the effectiveness of inhibitors of farnesylation as a potential therapy.
Researchers found that a small genetic mutation alters the structure of ATP7B, a large complex protein regulating copper movement in human cells. The study sheds light on how this mutation leads to Wilson disease, which affects as many as 150,000 people worldwide.
Researchers identified four small molecules that stabilize both normal and mutated PAH proteins, increasing their activity and amount in human cells. These findings suggest chaperones might provide a new approach to treating individuals with phenylketonuria.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have identified a key molecule linked to the progression of ALS. The protein VAPB plays a crucial role in regulating nerve-cell interactions and protein folding, with abnormal function contributing to the disease.
Researchers at Emory University developed an intrabody that binds to mutant huntingtin, reducing clumps and alleviating motor problems in mice. The study suggests a strategy for dissecting harmful effects of protein aggregates in other neurodegenerative diseases.
Research by University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center scientists shows stabilizing p53 can protect mutated versions that promote cancer cell spread. The p53 gene's normal role is to halt defective cell division and force self-destruction.
Researchers used computer simulations to study the effects of a minor genetic mutation on Alzheimer's disease. The mutation, which affects a protein fragment, alters its shape and increases the likelihood of toxic clumps forming in brain cells.
Researchers have induced cells to replenish the protein deficient in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) by activating an existing, slightly modified copy of the mutant gene. Alternative splicing compensates for the missing gene, holding out hope for one day successfully treating this often-fatal disease.
Scientists propose using chemical compounds to 'chaperone' mutant protein molecules, improving their folding and function. This approach may also be applicable to cystic fibrosis, a lung and digestive system disorder.
A recent study published in Neuron found that the damaged protein involved in Huntington's disease causes problems at the synapse early in its development, rather than after it is cut and imported into the nucleus. This discovery may lead to new targets for potential drug therapies targeting genes involved in synaptic transmission.
A mutation in the dynein protein may cause inherited neuropathy by disrupting cargo transport in sensory nerve cells, leading to severe proprioception defects and early-onset locomotion problems. This study provides crucial clues for developing better treatments for peripheral neuropathy.
A Northwestern University study found that overexcited neurons can cause protein damage in muscle cells due to neurotransmitter imbalance. This imbalance can lead to various diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders and cancer.
Researchers have developed a novel strategy to tackle aggressive leukemia by combining targeted therapies that degrade the mutated protein receptor and induce natural cell death. The approach uses histone deacetylase and heat shock protein 90 inhibitors to reduce the function of remaining proteins and kill leukemic cells.
A U. Iowa team discovered two cell-signaling proteins, Nox1 and Nox2, play a significant role in disease progression of inherited ALS, significantly increasing lifespan when deleted from mice. Nox2 deletion nearly doubles lifespan and survival index, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for ALS treatment.
Researchers discovered that mice without a key brain protein exhibited OCD-like behavior, including compulsive grooming and anxiety. Restoring the protein improved behaviors, suggesting a possible synaptic defect as the cause of OCD-like symptoms.
Chemists from UCLA and the University of Florence have made progress in understanding ALS by identifying copper and zinc's lack as a factor in protein misfolding. This hypothesis could lead to treatment advancements, but further investigation is needed.
A novel mutation in regulatory protein tropomyosin is associated with muscle weakness and distal limb deformities. The mutation modulates contractile speed and force-generation capacity by affecting myosin-actin kinetics.
Researchers have identified more than 200 new proteins that bind to normal and mutant forms of the protein causing Huntington’s disease. The study suggests these proteins may be potential drug targets for treating the incurable disease, which affects 30,000 Americans annually.
A recent study by researchers at Rice University has identified a key role for the protein Ras in promoting nerve cell growth and tumorigenesis in individuals with neurofibromatosis. The study found that defects in the Nf1 gene disrupt the normal regulatory mechanism, leading to an overactive signaling pathway.
Researchers found that mutations in LRRK2 protein stunt neuron growth and branching, leading to dopamine-producing neuron loss and disease progression. The study provides a useful animal model for studying PD and discovering new treatments.