Researchers from WEHI and the University of Vienna have identified two proteins that regulate mitophagy, a process crucial for cellular and neuronal health.
Mitophagy plays a key role in recycling damaged mitochondria, the powerhouse of cells, and its dysfunction is linked to Parkinson’s disease.
This breakthrough, led by Associate Professor Michael Lazarou from WEHI and Professor Sascha Martens from the University of Vienna, offers researchers an opportunity to enhance mitophagy activity for the betterment of mitochondrial and neuronal functions.
Parkinson’s disease is the fastest-growing neurological disorder globally, without any existing drugs or therapies that can halt its progression.
In Australia, a person is diagnosed with Parkinson’s approximately every 30 minutes, with over 219,000 individuals currently living with the disease in the country, a number expected to double in the next 15 years.
WEHI’s Parkinson’s Disease Research Centre boasts some of the world’s leading experts pursuing solutions through collaborative and interdisciplinary efforts.
Discovery of Novel Proteins in Parkinson’s Pathway
Mitochondria are responsible for generating energy in cells and rely on mitophagy to maintain their health by eliminating damaged or dysfunctional mitochondria.
PINK1 and Parkin are critical genes involved in mitophagy, and mutations in these genes are associated with early-onset Parkinson’s disease.
Prior to this discovery, the precise regulation mechanism of PINK1/Parkin mitophagy activation was unknown until the identification of two proteins, NAP1 and SINTBAD.
The recent study, published in Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, has elucidated that NAP1/SINTBAD govern the activation threshold for mitophagy.
Associate Professor Michael Lazarou emphasized that the identification of NAP1/SINTBAD enhances our comprehension of mitophagy regulation and introduces a new research focus for developing drug therapies.
“Targeting these proteins in neurons could offer a potential strategy to enhance mitophagy by lowering the activation threshold, thus promoting mitochondrial and neuronal health,” said Lazarou.
Implications for Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease
For individuals battling Parkinson’s disease, there is a lack of drugs that can slow or arrest the disease progression, affecting both motor and non-motor functions like mood, sleep, memory, and speech.
This research, supported by Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) and the Rebecca Cooper Medical Research Foundation, coupled with expertise from WEHI’s National Drug Discovery Centre, is anticipated to drive further investigations to identify drug targets and pave the way for developing new therapies targeting neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s.
