Research funded by The ALS Association has uncovered a cellular process that may affect those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The Mayo Clinical of Jacksonville, Florida uncovered:...when the cell's protein-making machinery latches on to this repetitive RNA, it creates a protein-like chain called a RAN-translated peptide, which the researchers have termed C9RANT. The peptide's own repetitive structure makes it stick to itself, and the researchers found clumps of the peptide in the brains of people who had died of ALS.
It is still unknown whether these peptides are contributing to disease or are uninvolved in it. But in either case, they offer researchers a specific marker for ALS caused by the C9ORF72 gene and potentially a way to measure disease activity and response to therapy.
According to PR Newswire, this is a complicated disease to track and treat but the discovery of the peptide could be a big step forward. Funding by the ALS Association was key.
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