Researchers detangle protein interaction implicated in Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s

Researchers detangle protein interaction implicated in Down syndrome and Alzheimer's
The powerful biomolecular NMR spectrometers at the University of Arizona have allowed scientists to gain molecular details of the interaction between RCAN1 and calcineurin, two proteins that have long been implicated in Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease. Credit: University of Arizona

From the movement of a finger to the creation of a memory, actions of the human body require the harmonious concert of protein interactions. A system of checks and balances ensures proper coordination of biomolecules, but when the scale is tipped, lopsided molecular relationships can lead to disorders and diseases. Discovering how proteins interact with one another under ideal conditions is critical to understand what goes awry in disease states, and to inform novel prevention and treatment strategies.

Read more…