UTSW Study Reveals Enzyme Linking Neurodevelopmental Disorder to Vital Role in Viral Protein Digestion

Josephine Thinwa, MD, PhD

UT Southwestern researchers, building on the work of the late Beth Levine, have discovered that an enzyme associated with a neurodevelopmental disorder plays a key role in digesting viral proteins during infection. Published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the study goes beyond viral infection, exploring broader implications.

Lead author Josephine Thinwa, MD, PhD, emphasizes the research's origin in Levine's lab, indicating a comprehensive investigation into the enzyme's functions beyond its involvement in viral infections, potentially extending to neurodevelopmental disorders and other cellular processes.