Single protein causes Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy
Wednesday, June 10, 2015 - 18:00
in Biology & Nature
Several neurodegenerative disorders are caused by aggregates of a single protein known as alpha-synuclein. Neurobiologists have discovered that the shape of these aggregates -- 'cylinders' or 'ribbons' -- determines whether a patient develops Parkinson's disease or multiple system atrophy, respectively.