The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Discovery could halt Parkinson’s disease
A MAJOR breakthrough that could stop devastating Parkinson’s disease “in its tracks” has been made by scientists at Dundee University.
The findings have been unveiled following a decade of dedicated research at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Protein Phosphorylation Unit at the university.
The scientists have discovered a molecular “on-off ” switch for Parkinson’s that acts to protect the brain from developing the killer disease.
The research has helped scientists understand how genetic mutations in a gene called PINK1 lead to Parkinson’s in patients as young as eight-years-old and could eventually lead to new ways to diagnose and treat the condition.
The breakthrough has come after a decade of intensive research at the MRC into the PINK1 enzyme (which is made by the PINK1 gene).
Scientists already knew that the job of some proteins inside cells is to switch other important proteins on or off. Understanding how these proteins work and which proteins they target could be the key to why nerve cells die in Parkinson’s, and how they can be saved.
Now the Dundee team has found that PINK1 switches on a protein called Parkin, whose main job is to keep cells healthy by removing damaged proteins. Mutations in the gene that makes Parkin can also cause inherited forms of Parkinson’s in younger patients.
The team was led jointly by Dr Miratul Muqit and Professor Dario Alessi at the MRC.
“Parkinson’s is a devastating degenerative brain disorder and currently we have no drugs in the clinic that can cure or slow the disease down,” said Dr Muqit, a Wellcome Trust clinician scientist in the Dundee unit.
“Over the last decade many genes have been linked to Parkinson’s but a major roadblock has been determining the function of these genes in the brain and how the mutations lead to brain degeneration.
“Our work suggests this pathway can’t be switched on in Parkinson’s patients with genetic mutations in PINK1 or Parkin.
“More research will be needed to see whether this also happens in Parkinson’s patients who do not carry these mutations.”
ROY PATERSON from Craigie in Dundee was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in January 2009.
While admitting that he knew little about the condition when doctors broke the news to him, 56-year-old Mr Paterson is now chairman of the Dundee and Angus branch of Parkinson’s UK.
“All I really knew was that Muhammad Ali and Michael J. Fox both had it – that was about it,” he said.
“I have a tremor in my right hand and I have some difficulties walking as well.
“I take tablets, which help, but when I don’t my legs get quite stiff.
“I used to walk quite a lot but I can’t do that now.
“However, I can still drive but if it wasn’t for my car then I would be really stuck for my messages.”
Despite some physical symptoms, Mr Paterson said he still enjoys an active lifestyle.
However, he admits that Parkinson’s is something that is particularly hard to ignore.
“When I’m speaking my tremor comes on a bit more and I also have problems getting to sleep,” he continued.
“I don’t know if it’s just the shaking but I find it quite difficult to get comfortable.
“I used to play golf but there is no way that I could play now.
“I’m now a member of an air rifle club though.
“When I grab a hold of something my tremor stops for a moment and that is just enough time for me to get my shot off.”
Mr Paterson has been well aware of the work going on at Dundee University and has been encouraged by the findings of Dr Miratul Muqit and Professor Dario Alessi.
Though he admits their research is more likely to benefit younger sufferers, he believes that any studies into Parkinson’s can only be a good thing.
“I was at the university a couple of weeks ago and I know they have been doing a lot of studies on the PINK1 gene,” Mr Paterson said.
“I believe that the PINK1 gene is mainly found in people under the age of 40 so this is good news for younger people with Parkinson’s but I don’t think it will have many benefits for me.”