Researchers Discover Link Between Protein and Synapse Development in Dystroglycanopathy
- Angela Yeager
- Jul 8
- 1 min read
The Wright Laboratory at the Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, has made a breakthrough discovery in a primary disease mechanism associated with Dystroglycanopathy.
Research findings recently published in Communications Biology reveal that the protein Dystroglycan plays a critical role in forming and maintaining connections between nerve cells in the cerebellum — the part of the brain responsible for movement coordination and motor learning.
“Most research on Dystroglycan is focused on the muscular system,” said Jennifer Jahncke, PhD, lead author on the study and a postdoctoral scholar in the lab of Kevin Wright, PhD, associate professor at OHSU’s Vollum Institute.
“There is a neurological aspect that has been overlooked. What this study shows is that Dystroglycan is also essential for building the brain’s communication network — particularly connections that help balance and regulate nerve signals.”
This work has been funded by Cure CMD, the National Institutes of Health, and the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
Read the full article on OHSU News. Full credit and our appreciation, not only to the members of the Wright Lab, but also OHSU Senior Communications Specialist, Angela Yeager.
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