Author: CHEN Xiusheng 

Publisher: Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Central Nervous System Regeneration Research Institute

Date: February 7, 2024

In a groundbreaking exploration shedding light on the intricate workings of Parkinson's disease, a research team hailing from JNU has uncovered notable disparities in the expression and functionality of the pathogenic protein PINK1 across different species.

On February 6th, the dynamic duo of Li Xiaojiang and Yang Weili at the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Institute of Central Nervous System Regeneration within JNU took center stage as they unveiled their pivotal research findings in the esteemed international zoology journal. Titled Comparative Analysis of Primate and Pig Cells Reveals Species-Specific PINK1 Expression and Physiology (doi: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.23.241), this research endeavor has made waves in the scientific community with its profound implications for understanding the unique pathological features of Parkinson's disease in primate brains.

(Screenshot of the paper)

Delving into a comparative analysis encompassing monkeys, pigs, and mice, the team's research has illuminated distinct variations in the levels of PINK1 protein expression among these species, offering crucial insights that could pave the way for a deeper comprehension of the specific disease mechanisms at play in primate neurological systems.

At the forefront of this groundbreaking study are doctoral students Chen Xiusheng and Han Rui from JNU, with esteemed researcher Yang Weili assuming the role of corresponding author at the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Institute of Central Nervous Regeneration. The invaluable contribution of Zhao Jianguo and the research team from the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in providing the pivotal PINK1 gene knockout pig model tissue cannot be understated. Additionally, the unwavering support and valuable insights provided by Professors Li Xiaojiang and Li Shihua from JNU have been instrumental in propelling this research forward.

This seminal research initiative has garnered robust support from a myriad of funding sources including the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the National Key Research and Development Program, the Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Foundation, the Guangzhou Science and Technology Program, and JNU, underscoring the collaborative efforts driving innovation in the realm of neuroscientific research.

For those eager to delve deeper into the intricacies of this transformative study, the original paper can be accessed via the following link: [Paper Link]

(https://doi.org/10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.241)