Degenerative disease researchers make breakthrough in bid to find treatment for Parkinson's and Huntington's Researchers discover enzyme in brain inhibits activity of drug-like lead compound for Huntington's Disease Team say findings demonstrate it can be developed as effective treatment for neurodegenerative diseases Took five years for the team to establish a crsytal structure of the enzyme for the first time ever Researchers have made a major breakthrough in the search for treatments for degenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease (file picture posed by models) A major breakthrough has been made by researchers seeking treatments for degenerative illnesses such as Parkinson's Disease. Researchers at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology have detailed how an enzyme in the brain interacts with a drug-like lead compound for Huntington's Disease to inhibit its activity. The team said their findings demonstrate that it can be developed as an effective treatment for neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Working with colleagues at the University of Leicester and the University of Lisbon in Portugal, the researchers identified the molecular structure of the enzyme kynurenine 3-monooxygense (KMO), which is found in the human brain. It took five years for the team to establish the crystal structure of KMO - the first time it's ever been done. The scientists, who published the research in the journal Nature, then studied how the compound UPF 648 binds tightly to the enzyme to act as an inhibitor. Previous studies with animal models of neurodegenerative disease have showed that switching off the enzyme activity through drug binding should be effective in the treatment of brain disorders. Study leader Professor Nigel Scrutton said: 'UPF 648 works very well as an inhibitor of enzyme activity. However, in its current form it does not pass into the brain from the blood. The search is now on for related compounds that can both inhibit the enzyme and pass into the brain. The team said their findings demonstrate the enzyme can be developed as an effective treatment for neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's (file picture) He added: 'Our research detailing the molecular structure of the enzyme now enables a search for new KMO inhibitors that are able to cross the blood-brain barrier. 'This provides real hope for developing drug therapies to target neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.' Dr Flaviano Giorgini, the team's neurogeneticist from the University of Leicester, said: 'This is a big move forward for the development of new KMO inhibiting drugs. Unlocking the crystal structure of KMO is a real boost to our efforts to find treatments for this devastating disease Professor Sarah Tabrizi It is hoped that such compounds may ultimately be tested in clinical trials and prove beneficial for patients. The findings from the research will now be used in the search for more effective treatments for Huntington's Disease. Professor Sarah Tabrizi, head of the Huntington's disease research team at University College London's Institute for Neurology, said: 'Unlocking the crystal structure of KMO is a real boost to our efforts to find treatments for this devastating disease. 'It provides a solid basis for the optimisation of inhibitor drugs like UPF 648 that are being developed by the global Huntington's disease research community. KMO is one of our top drug targets, and the crystal structure is a significant step along our roadmap to clinical trials of KMO inhibitors in patients. Cath Stanley, chief executive of the Huntington's Disease Association, also welcomed the findings. She said: 'This research is a really exciting piece of the jigsaw that enables us to understand a little more and takes us a step closer to being able to provide an effective treatment for Huntington's Disease.'