How a single protein can reverse age-related blindness
Francesca Marassi Ph.D. is leading a research team led by Sanford Burnham Prebys Professor Francesca Marassi to uncover the molecular secrets behind macular degeneration. Macular degeneration causes 90% of age-related blindness.
This study, which was published in the Biophysical journal, describes the flexibility of a blood protein that is involved in age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and atherosclerosis.
Marassi says that the flow of blood in different parts of the body puts constant pressure on the proteins. Blood flows slower through the small blood vessels of the eyes than the larger arteries surrounding the heart. This study provides us with fundamental truths on how blood proteins adapt to their environments, which are critical for targeting these proteins in future treatments.
Source:
https://sbpdiscovery.org/news/how-a-single-protein-could-unlock-age-related-vision-loss
