Neuroscience

PINK1 is a protein serine/threonine kinase (PTK) that protects the organelles from cellular stress and controls selective autophagy to clear damage. Exner, et al. were among the first to report that PINK1 deficiency in humans was linked to autosomal recessive occurrences of Parkinson's disease (PD) and neurogenerative pathology (1).

CCR2, also known as CD192 (cluster of differentiation 192), is a chemokine receptor and is expressed by monocytes, activated T cells, B cells and natural killer cells. This protein is encoded by CCR2 gene in humans. CCR2 gene encodes two protein isoforms of a receptor for chemokines monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP1), MCP3 and MCP4.

The product of the Parkinson's disease 7 (Park7/DJ-1) gene belongs to the peptidase C56 family of proteins and appears to have two transcriptional variants. It is a positive regulator of androgen receptor-dependent transcription, and some evidence suggests it may also function as a redox-sensitive chaperone and sensor for oxidative stress. It apparently protects neurons against oxidative stress and cell death. Defects in the Park7 gene result in the autosomal recessive form of early-onset Parkinson’s disease.

Thymoquinone (2-isopropyl-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone, or TQ) is derived from the seeds of the black cumin plant Nigella sativa. It has been reported to have a number of beneficial properties including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumorigenic activities and, like many other natural products, derivatives and analogues of thymoquinone are being synthesised in an effort to increase its therapeutic potential.

Huntington's disease is an inherited progressive neurodegenerative disorder which impairs cognition, causes issues with movement, and has associated behavioral changes and emotional problems. There is currently no cure for Huntington's disease, but research is focused on understanding the function of the Huntington's disease gene. Learn more in our infographic below.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that impacts cognitive function. Research is currently being done to understand different genetic, environmental and biological factors which contribute to the disease to find a cure. Learn more in our infographic about Alzheimer's disease below.

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Parkinson's disease affects the nervous system which controls movement. Damage to the levels of dopamine in the brain impairs the ability to relay messages to parts of the body which control movement. While the exact cause of the disease is unknown, researchers are examining genetic causes linked to the LRRK2 gene and environmental factors.

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The body contains thousands of receptors and nerves which allow us to experience the sense of touch, also referred to as tactile perception. The somatosensory system allows organisms to perceive and decode a wide range of tactile stimuli to allow for the recognition of objects, ability to discern textures and provide feedback on sensory-motor systems. 

The auditory process involves several structures of the ear to convert sound waves into information that is processed by our brain. Learn more about the auditory process in our infographic below. Novus Biologicals offers reagents mentioned in the infographic including:

Beclin 1 is the first mammalian gene identified as a mediator of autophagy, and plays important roles in development, tumorigenesis, and neurodegeneration.