The Chinese University of Hong KongSchool of Life SciencesSchool of Life SciencesSchool of Life SciencesSchool of Life Sciences

  • About us
    • The School
    • Director's Message
    • Contact Us
  • Faculty and Staff
    • Academic Staff
    • Honorary and Emeritus Professors
    • Support Staff
    • Postgraduate
      • Admission Year
        • 2022
        • 2021
        • 2020
        • 2019
    • Awards
      • Teaching Awards
      • Research Awards
  • Programmes
    • Undergraduate Programmes
      • Programmes
        • Biochemistry
        • Biology
        • Cell & Molecular Biology
        • Environmental Science
        • Food & Nutritional Sciences
        • Molecular Biotechnology
      • Admissions
      • Curricula
        • Undergraduate Study Schemes (4-Year Curriculum)
        • Curriculum Forum
        • How to choose major in SLS
      • Special Programmes
        • SMART Program
        • DREAM Program
          • 2015
          • 2012-13
          • 2011
          • 2010
        • iGEM
          • iGEM 2010
          • iGEM 2011
          • iGEM 2012
          • iGEM 2013
          • iGEM 2014
          • iGEM 2015
          • iGEM 2017
          • iGEM 2018
          • iGEM 2019
          • iGEM 2024
        • iCare Program
          • iCare 2015
        • BBSA Programme
          • BBSA 2025-26
          • BBSA 2022-23
          • BBSA 2021-22
          • BBSA 2019-20
          • BBSA 2018-19
          • BBSA 2017-18
          • BBSA 2016-17
          • BBSA 2023-24
        • USSP
          • USSP 2024-25
          • USSP 2023-24
          • USSP 2019-20
          • USSP 2018-19
          • Student Sharings (CUHK-USSP)
      • Awards
      • Brochure
      • e-Learning
      • Academic Advising
      • News
    • Postgraduate Programmes
      • Programmes & Admissions
      • Awards
      • Notices
  • Research
    • Research Areas
      • Cell Biology
      • Environmental Science
      • Food & Nutritional Sciences
      • Genomics & Bioinformatics
      • Marine Science
      • Plant & Agricultural Science
      • Physiology & Developmental Biology
      • Protein Science
    • Research Centers
    • Facilities
  • News and Events
    • Photo Albums
      • Students
      • Education
      • Events
      • Alumni
    • Events
    • News
    • Seminars
      • 2025
      • 2024
      • 2023
      • 2022
      • 2021
      • 2020
      • 2019
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2015
      • 2014
      • 2013
      • 2012
    • Special Seminars
      • BRCAS-SLSCUHK Joint Symposium on Biodiversity & Genomics
        • 2017
      • CUHK-IBC Bilateral Symposium
        • 2017
      • Mini Symposium
        • 2022
        • 2018
        • 2017
      • SLS/GCNI Seminar Series
        • 2024
      • Yen Kwo Yung Lecture in Life Sciences
        • 2025
        • 2024
        • 2023
        • 2022
        • 2019
        • 2018
        • 2017
        • 2016
    • Past Events
    • CUriosity
  • eLearning Activities
    • Resources
  • Career Prospects
    • Undergraduate Programmes
      • Biochemistry
      • Biology
      • Cell & Molecular Biology
      • Environmental Science
      • Food & Nutritional Sciences
      • Molecular Biotechnology
  • Job Opportunities
    • Professoriate / Teaching / Research Posts

HOPE FOR PATI ENTS WITH SPINOCEREBELLAR ATAXIA

Cerebellum is a region of the brain concerned primarily with the maintenance of posture and balance and the coordination of movement. Disease or damage to it can result in abnormalities of motor control. The culprit is exceptionally elusive if it runs in the family of the sufferer. That is why Spinocerebellar Ataxia, or SCAs, the group of rare genetic diseases that causes progressive deterioration of the nervous system, particularly the cerebellum, is at present considered incurable. SCA patients gradually lose the fine motor functions of their bodies. Although their minds are fully clear and active, they often have blurred speech and vision.

Our research team has unveiled that, among the 40 odd subtypes of Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCAs), one group known as polyglutamine (polyQ) is the result of cell death in the neurons of the brain that disrupts the function of the cerebellum. Having identified the pathogenic process termed nucleolar stress, we managed to identify a peptide out of a family of six to act as a decoy for the toxic RNA to prey on, thus relieving the nucleolin to function normally. Collaborating with scientists in different countries, we developed a novel drug called P3 peptide inhibitor that could pass through the blood-brain barrier. This peptide inhibitor drug is a promise of help for patients suffering from polyQ and a number of fatal, inherited neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's disease. It also carries the potential to be developed to treat others not so rare neurodegenerative diseases. Most importantly, peptide drugs are desirable for treating brain diseases because of its low toxicity. Well known for its specificity and can reach target cells precisely, they are also very potent so that the amount to be administered could be concise. So far P3 has already come to its 31st version, after the concerted efforts in Denmark and France.

Edwin2   Edwin1
 

School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Tel:(852) 3943 6122 Fax: (852) 2603 5646 Email: lifesciences@cuhk.edu.hk

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved. School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong