In Search of the Genes Behind Parkinson’s Disease

Published23 Apr 2019
Author Michael W. Richardson
Source BrainFacts/SfN

Nuclei of the neurons labeled in blue, while microtubules, which function as cellular scaffolding, are labeled in purple.

Rousseaux, et al. The Journal of Neuroscience, 2018.

Researchers are on the hunt for genes associated with Parkinson’s disease. During the course of the degenerative disease, clumps of tangled proteins accumulate in the brain and kill neurons. A protein called alpha-synuclein is the main component of these protein clumps. Scientists grew human neurons (shown here) in the lab to identify the genetic switches that can reduce alpha-synuclein production as potential therapeutics.

The nuclei of the neurons are labeled in blue, while microtubules, which function as cellular scaffolding, are labeled in purple. These cell cultures may help researchers identify potential therapies to help regulate the production of alpha-synuclein and help prevent Parkinson’s disease in future patients.

About the Author

Image of Michael Richardson in front of water

Michael W. Richardson

Michael W. Richardson is a writer and editor based in Brooklyn, New York, covering topics ranging from the brain and behavior to the environment.

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BrainFacts/SfN

References

Rousseaux, M. W., Vázquez-Vélez, G. E., Al-Ramahi, I., Jeong, H., Bajić, A., Revelli, J., . . . Zoghbi, H. Y. (2018). A Druggable Genome Screen Identifies Modifiers of α-Synuclein Levels via a Tiered Cross-Species Validation Approach. The Journal of Neuroscience, 38(43), 9286–9301. doi:10.1523/jneurosci.0254-18.2018