Washington [US]: According to a new USC study, a mutation in a newly discovered small protein is connected to a significant increase in the risk for Alzheimer's disease, expanding the known gene targets for the disease and presenting a new potential avenue for treatment.
The protein, called SHMOOSE, is a tiny "microprotein" encoded by a newly discovered gene within the cell's energy-producing mitochondria. A mutation within this gene partially inactivates the SHMOOSE microprotein and is associated with a 20-50 per cent higher risk for Alzheimer's disease across four different cohorts.
