Scientists from the Australian Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) have shown for the first time on video the work of a protein associated with the launch of currently incurable Parkinson's disease. Video published on WEHI website.

The PINK1 protein is responsible in the cell for the removal and replacement of damaged mitochondria (mitochondria are energy generators). If this protein does not work properly, brain cells die due to lack of energy.. The death of cells that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine leads to Parkinson's disease.

Previously, scientists around the world took pictures of this protein, but many of them were very different from each other and created confusion..

Thanks to the eight-year research project of the WEHI Institute, a visualization of the full life cycle of this protein was created, which confirmed that different images were just different stages of development..

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The team used cryoelectron microscopy equipment for the study..

Detailing the molecular process is a chance to develop long-awaited drugs for Parkinson's disease, scientists say.