Dogfish steroid suppresses Parkinson's Disease

A chemical found in dogfish sharks blocks the process that leads to Parkinson's Disease, scientists at Cambridge University have found. The steroid squalamine prevents a protein called alpha-synuclein from accumulating on and damaging nerve cell membranes in the brain. A synthetic form of squalamine protected cells cultured in a dish and also protected microscopic worms that were genetically altered to develop a Parkinson's-like syndrome. Chris Dobson explains how he and his colleagues made the discovery...