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alpha synuclien

Brain Cancer Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·April 14, 2025·4 min read

Shared Protein Link Found Between Parkinson’s and Cancer

A new study reveals that the protein alpha-synuclein, known for its role in Parkinson’s disease, also contributes to the development of melanoma by promoting excessive DNA repair and cell proliferation. While in neurons, excess alpha-synuclein leads to cell death, in melanoma cells it enables uncontrolled growth by recruiting repair proteins to DNA breaks.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·April 3, 2024·6 min read

Cracking Parkinson’s: Proteins’ Aggregation Unveiled

Researchers employing computational models have made a significant leap in understanding the aggregation of alpha-synuclein protein, crucial in Parkinson’s disease development. This study marks the first to map the molecular dynamics of these proteins in detail, revealing how environmental factors like molecule crowding and ionic changes enhance aggregation.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·September 7, 2023·4 min read

Glymphatic System Key to Parkinson’s Protein Spread and Aggregation

Researchers shed light on the puzzle of Parkinson’s disease progression. They discovered that a mutated version of the α-synuclein protein moves through the brain's lymphatic system, known as the glymphatic system, before aggregating.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·January 11, 2023·3 min read

Cough Medicine Could Be Used in New Treatment for Parkinson’s Disease

Ambroxol, a common medicine used to treat respiratory illnesses shows promise as a treatment to slow the progression of Parkinson's disease. Researchers report ambroxol increases the level of GCase, a protein that allows cells to remove waste proteins including alpha synuclein.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 30, 2021·4 min read

Discovery May Point to Parkinson’s Disease Therapies

In Parkinson's disease, alpha-synuclein binds to LC3B. Normally, LC3B causes misfolded proteins to become degraded, but in the case of Parkinson's, LC3B becomes trapped in protein aggregates and becomes inactive.

This shows a brain slice of a patient with PD

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·January 5, 2021·4 min read

Artificial Enzyme May Be First Step Toward Treatment for Parkinson’s Disease

Researchers have created an artificial enzyme that stops alpha-synuclein from spreading. The findings could have positive implications for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Image shows a head with the brain exposed.

Featured Neurology Open Neuroscience Articles

·June 27, 2017·6 min read

Parkinson’s Associated Protein Linked to Human Upper GI Tract Infections

A new study reports chronic infections of the upper gastrointestinal tract could be linked to Parkinson's disease. Researchers say alpha synuclein, a Parkinson's linked protein, is released during upper GI infections, inducing an immune response. Findings suggest frequent chronic infections could overwhelm the body's ability to remove the protein, leading to the onset of Parkinson's.