Washington, Dec 29: US researchers have discovered that a molecular switch can prevent the development of the fatal Huntington’s disease in mice.
Huntington’s disease is a neurological condition caused by the mutation of a gene that codes a brain protein known as huntingtin.
The condition starts in midlife and impairs an individual’s ability to walk, talk and think properly in a gradual form. There is no cure for the illness, indicating that the treatment only focuses on the symptoms.
According to a study published in Neuron, a chemical modification of genes can prevent the development of Huntington’s disease through blocking the mutation of the responsible protein.
Phosphorylation — a chemical process that alters the function of certain proteins — of a region of DNA next to the mutated portion has shown promising results in reducing the occurrence of the disease.
“We were surprised to find that subtle modification of only two amino acids in this very large protein can prevent the onset of disease,” said lead researcher William Yang.
Scientists hope their findings will lead to the development of new strategies to fight the hereditary disorder.
–Agencies