Sex life of worm hides a protein with links to ALS

Via Scoop.it – ALS Lou Gehrig’s Disease

A protein that helps worm sperm to fertilise an egg may be related to a human protein that plays a role in inherited forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The new discovery, by Michael Miller at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and colleagues at Baylor University in Texas, has highlighted a protein that may be a culprit. The protein, called MSP, was first found in male Caenorhabditis elegans nematode worms 11 years ago. It is secreted by sperm cells to prepare eggs for fertilisation. In 2004, a similar protein was discovered in a large human family with the inherited form of ALS. In humans it appears to be involved in signalling between cells, especially muscle cells. Miller’s team has now found that if worms and fruit flies have a mutation that makes them produce less MSP, they suffer mitochondrial defects like those in people with ALS. This suggests that a lack of the protein might help trigger the disease. Every person with ALS studied so far also has less of the protein than healthy people, adds Miller.
Via www.newscientist.com