News

‘Hero’ Proteins Protect Cells from Toxic Clumps Underlying ALS, Other Neurodegenerative Diseases

Human cells produce a type of proteins, termed “Heroes,” that protect against the formation of toxic protein aggregates involved in several neurological conditions, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and are extremely resistant to harsh conditions, early study results show. Organisms naturally use Hero proteins as molecular shields to stabilize…

Stimulating Muscle Cells May Help to Repair Motor Neurons

Muscle cell activity helps to promote motor nerve cell repair after injury, scientists found in using a device to model motor neuron and muscle cell interaction. They believe this finding could be relevant to diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that imperil motor neuron survival. The device was described…