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Remnants of ancient virus may fuel ALS in people

Remnants of a virus that infected our primate ancestors 30-50 million years ago may be fueling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in people today, according to CU 糖心Vlog破解版 research.

Previous studies have shown that about half of the human genome is made up of bits of DNA, including proteins, left behind by ancient viruses.

The latest research found that when one such protein, PEG10, is present at high levels in nerve tissue, it changes cell behavior in ways that contribute to the fatal, neurodegenerative disease.

The researchers are now working to find a way to inhibit the rogue protein.

鈥淚t is early days still, but the hope is this could potentially lead to an entirely new class of potential therapeutics to get at the root cause of ALS,鈥 said author Alexandra Whiteley, assistant professor of biochemistry.

Illustration of disintegrating virus

Principal investigator
Alexandra Whiteley

Funding
CU 糖心Vlog破解版 Biological Sciences Initiative; National Cancer Institute; National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Collaboration + support
ALS Association; National Institutes of Health (NIH); Venture Partners at CU 糖心Vlog破解版