Scientists find proteins that regulate synapses in brain

SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean scientists said Wednesday they have discovered two proteins responsible for naturally creating and destroying synapses, a discovery expected to help find ways to treat neurological disorders.
The team led by Park Mi-kyoung, a chief researcher at state-run Korea Institute of Science and Technology's (KIST) Brain Science Institute, said the cyclin Y and cyclin-dependent kinase-5 (CDK-5) protein found in the caenorhabditis elegans roundworm play an integral role in the formation and elimination of synapses.
A synapse, which is part of the nervous system, permits a neuron to pass an electrical or chemical signal to a nearby cell. Such transmissions control all bodily functions, with any problems leading to disorders including dementia.
Park said that the discovery, published in the latest online issue of Neuron, is significant since the cellular and molecular mechanisms that coordinate synaptogenesis and synapse elimination were poorly understood in the past.
"Laboratory tests showed that the proteins of destroyed synapses contribute to the creation of new synapses," she said.
Though much more follow-up research needs to be done, the discovery may help doctors artificially stimulate growth of new synapses in the future, which may be used to treat people suffering from incurable neurological diseases, the scientist said.
yonngong@yna.co.kr