Description
James M. Gruschus is a molecular biophysicist with a Ph.D. in physics from Cornell University. He is currently employed as a staff scientist in the Laboratory of Structural Biophysics, National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and resides in Washington, DC. 1. Out of the Depths – The synuclein proteins, their evolution, and the genetic code 2. Bad News, Good News – The demographics and genetic and environmental risk factors for Parkinson’s disease 3. The Family Tremor – REM sleep behaviour disorder and essential tremor 4. The Knockout – The history of the knockout mouse and the surprising results for the synuclein proteins 5. Shapeshifter – The molecular structure and normal biological role of synuclein in neurons 6. A New Kind of Pathogen – Prion diseases and amyloid fibrils 7. Addicts – Neurotoxins that cause parkinsonism and the search for analogues in the environment 8. Attack of the Oligomers – Alpha-synuclein amyloid oligomers and their pathogenic roles 9. An Evolutionary Affair – The connection between Gaucher disease and Parkinson’s disease 10. Monkey Brains – Evolution of the human brain and the vulnerability of the substantia nigra 11. A Troublesome Subject – Exploring the possible connection between intelligence and Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases 12. Appendix – Alpha-synuclein in the gut, Crohn’s disease, and the possible protective role of the synucleins in innate immune response 13. Circuitry – The discovery of neural pathways involved in Parkinson’s disease and deep brain stimulation 14. Seeking a Magic Bullet – The search for new Parkinson’s disease therapeutic agents 15. Journey’s End – A recap of the chapters, the final conclusions, and new directions to explore
