Targeting DNA damage

Summary

The maintenance of DNA integrity is critical in motor neurons. Healthy cells normally repair DNA damage, which can be caused by various factors. In MND however, Professor Patani and his team have shown that motor neurons face difficulties in repairing DNA, leading to cell damage.

TDP-43 is a protein that plays an important role in the assembly line that converts information stored in our DNA into molecules called RNA, which are used as the template for making the proteins within our cells. TDP-43 is known to be dysregulated in about 97% of people living with MND, leading to RNA processing errors. Professor Patani and his team hypothesise that these RNA processing errors result in widespread DNA damage and ultimately cause the death of motor neurons. Professor Patani and his team are aiming to better understand the link between DNA damage, RNA processing and MND.

Why this research is important

This research is vital because it delves into one of the potential root causes of MND, DNA damage in motor neurons. By pinpointing how RNA errors contribute to this damage, the project could pave the way for developing new, more effective treatments.

Read here to learn more about this project.

To find out more about TDP-43, check out our infographic.

*This project is funded by our supporters in Hong Kong and is co-funded by MND Association.