Hunting for the mutant without the MAP(K).

Abstract

In a paper recently published in Cell Research, Yu et al. identify two MAPK-related kinases, MAPK11 and HIPK3, as positive regulators of levels of mutant huntingtin protein, a toxic species highly involved in Huntington's disease (HD) pathology. The identification and validation of these kinases as therapeutic targets for knockdown in multiple relevant experimental model systems reveal novel potential approaches for treatment of HD.