Structure of Cdc48 May Provide Clues for Designing New ALS Therapies, Study Shows

Scientists who dissected the structure, and mechanism of action, of the protein Cdc48 — dubbed the “Swiss Army knife of cells” — say it can be explored as a therapeutic target for several disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The findings of the study, “Structure of the…

Changing TDP-43’s Structure Can Halt Neurodegeneration in ALS and FTD, Study Finds

Accumulation of TDP-43 protein is known to drive neurodegeneration associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Now, researchers have found that targeting the structure of TDP-43 and blocking its normal activity can halt the death of nerve cells linked to TDP-43 accumulation in ALS and FTD models. The…

Shapes of Protein Whose Mutations Are Linked to ALS May Offer Clues to Disease Progression

Researchers have mapped the possible changes in shape of a key amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) protein that becomes mutated, a development that could lead to understanding how the mutations contribute to the disease’s progression. The knowledge could also lead to new therapeutic agents to target the mutations. The protein, angiogenin, is present…