BioCentury
ARTICLE | Translation in Brief

Lighting up the DYRK

How inhibiting DYRK1A can promote neurogenesis and help treat Down syndrome

November 16, 2017 8:27 PM UTC

Kyoto University researchers have described a DYRK1A inhibitor that could treat neuronal deficits in Down syndrome with fewer side effects than other inhibitors of the kinase -- but neurology company NeuroNascent Inc. suggests the safety of the strategy remains an open question.

Dual-specificity tyrosine-(Y)-phosphorylation regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) is located in a region of chromosome 21 known to drive Down syndrome. The gene is overexpressed in adults with the condition. ...