Researchers have discovered the key molecule that gets over activated by the protein of the Huntingtons disease and sets way for the condition to
Researchers have discovered the key molecule that gets over activated by the protein of the Huntingtons disease and sets way for the condition to be expressed.
Huntingtons disease is a genetic disorder that slowly destroys the ability of the person to think or move by himself. Early symptoms of the disease may be depression, mood swings, forgetfulness, and inability to concentrate or remember. In severe condition, the person is unable to take care of himself, and may die of infection, choking or cardiac arrest.The protein of the Huntingtons disease (HD) activates a regular protein called p53. The p53 can lead to expression of some other genes, that can lead to the full fledged expression of the genes. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who had conduced the study, feel that the molecule p53 may also be responsible for Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called Lou Gehrigs disease.
The research establishes a specific role for p53 in Huntingtons disease, as a nuclear transcription factor that regulates various mitochondrial genes. The research findings thus link the disturbances of nuclei and mitochondria in the disease condition.
Reference: Neuron, July 2005
