Jumping genes, or transposable elements, make up nearly half of the human genome. These mobile sequences can shift within the genome and are known to influence various biological processes, often playing a role in the development of diseases.
An international team of researchers led by Johan Jakobsson, Professor of Neuroscience at Lund University and Director of Lund Stem Cell Center, aims to determine whether these elements become abnormally active in Parkinson’s disease and how they might contribute to its progression.
“During the initial phase of our research, we found evidence suggesting that transposable elements could become active during Parkinson’s,” explains Professor Johan Jakobsson. “This new grant allows us to dig deeper and develop tools to control this activity, which we hope could lead to therapies or improved diagnostic methods in the future.”
A Global, Multidisciplinary Collaboration
The project, which began four years ago, brings together experts from across the globe. Professor Jakobsson leads the molecular biology efforts and collaborates with leading researchers from Denmark, the UK, and the US, who each contribute their own specialized expertise. Team Jakobsson is part of ASAP’s Collaborative Research Network (CRN), an international, multidisciplinary, and multi-institutional network of collaborating investigators who are working to address high-priority research questions.
“This collaboration is truly valuable and with high potential because it merges clinical, molecular, and computational expertise,” states Johan Jakobsson. “It allows us to approach Parkinson’s disease from multiple perspectives, which is needed when studying a disorder this complex.”
Dr. Agnete Kirkeby at the University of Copenhagen focuses on stem cell models, Professor Roger Barker at Cambridge University oversees patient materials, and Professor Molly Hammel at New York University leads the bioinformatics effort, essential for processing large volumes of genetic data.
Patient samples and bioinformatics can offer new insights
This project benefits from samples provided by clinicians and pathologists at Cambridge University. These samples come from patients who were studied during their lifetimes, offering a rare opportunity to combine clinical data with postmortem analysis.
“Our ability to work with this well-characterized human tissue is key,” says Johan Jakobsson. “It allows us greater control over the quality of the data and allows for more precise research.”
The new funding will also support the development of advanced bioinformatics tools to handle the vast amounts of genetic data produced by the research. These tools will help them in identifying the genetic mechanisms driving Parkinson’s disease and could offer insights that go beyond Parkinson’s to other neurodegenerative disorders.
“Being part of such a strong network speaks volumes about the quality of the work being done at Lund University,” Johan Jakobsson notes. “Working across different fields and countries isn’t without challenges, but it has been incredibly rewarding. We’re excited to move forward with this next phase and continue making progress in understanding Parkinson’s disease, thanks to the resources provided by this grant.”
