Drug Candidates Can Target Pathways Involved in Parkinson’s Cell Destruction

In a pair of recent studies published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry and Scientific Robots, researchers from The Scripps Research Institute have shown drug candidates that can target biological pathways involved in the destruction of brain cells in Parkinson’s disease. The studies suggest that it’s possible to design highly effective and highly selective (targeted) drug candidates that can protect the function of mitochondria, which provide the cell with energy, ultimately preventing brain cell death. These drug candidates act on what are known as “junk” kinases — JNK1, JNK2 and JNK3 — each an enzyme with a unique biological function. JNK is linked to many of the hallmark components of Parkinson’s disease, such as oxidative stress and programmed cell death. “These are the first isoform selective JNK 2/3 inhibitors that can penetrate the brain and the first shown to be active in functional cell-based tests that measure mitochondrial dysfunction,” said the lead author of both studies. The new studies raise the hope for potential therapy that could prevent the gradual degeneration of brain cells in Parkinson’s disease. To read more about these studies, click here.