Denmark advances research for neurological disease therapies

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Cracking the code of disordered proteins: paving the way for neurological disease therapies

Many neurological diseases, including Parkinson’s, are caused by disordered proteins that lack a fixed structure. These unstable molecules constantly shift and flow, much like pasta swirling in boiling water. Their unpredictable behaviour makes them difficult to target with drugs. At the University of Copenhagen, EU-supported researchers discovered a new way these proteins can interact. Remarkably, they found that such proteins can bind to each other in a way not previously observed. This unexpected finding could lead to treatments that remain active for longer in the body – a promising step towards more effective therapies for complex diseases such as Parkinson’s.

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The full story

What if the key to complex neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s lies within the unpredictable dance of proteins inside our cells?

EU-supported researchers from the University of Copenhagen made a breakthrough in their study of intrinsically disordered proteins, which are associated with a variety of diseases.

Unlike well-structured proteins, intrinsically disordered proteins lack a fixed shape. They swirl like pasta in boiling water, which makes their behaviour unpredictable.

Recently, Dr Estella Newcombe and Professor Birthe Kragelund discovered that these proteins can bind to each other in a way never seen before. This surprising discovery could pave the way for treatments that stay active longer in the body, bringing us closer to more effective therapies.

Intrinsically disordered proteins have been very difficult for people to target with drugs in the past. But because we have made this discovery, we might end up with a drug that the body actually responds to and that only these particular proteins respond to.
– Estella Newcombe, Assistant professor at the University of Copenhagen, Department of Biology

Estella, from Australia, joined Birthe’s lab as part of the two-year SYN-CHARGE research initiative, supported by €219 000 in EU funding. Her work alongside other talented researchers on protein interactions helped transform the lab into a hub of new ideas, paving the way for exciting discoveries.

‘That's the joy of working with talented, young people, like Estella. It’s the dynamic interaction between culture, language and research approaches’, says Birthe. ‘That’s where the crazy ideas happen, and that's how we move forward.’

For more than 40 years, the EU has championed research, nurturing curiosity, innovation and collaboration across the globe. From breakthroughs in neurobiology and healthcare to Earth monitoring and clean aviation, the EU’s efforts reach far beyond the lab, shaping a better future for everyone.

Meet the team

Dr Estella Anne Newcombe
Assistant Professor
Dr Birthe Brandt Kragelund
Professor
Dr Johan Gotthardt Olsen
Assistant Professor
Dr Daniel Saar
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr Amanda Duncan Due
Postdoctoral Fellow

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