Scientists solve 3D structure of key protein in Parkinson’s

A research team from the UK’s Medical Research Council (MRC) Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC PPU) and the University of Dundee said that solving the 3D structure and inner workings of the PINK1 enzyme could help in the development of new drugs against Parkinson's disease. Previous advances in genetics identified that inherited mutations in the PINK1 gene are the second most frequent cause of early-onset Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s is a progressive degenerative brain disorder, which to date remains incurable. In this new research, published in the journal eLife, the scientists revealed the structure of PINK1, isolated from the model organism Tribolium…