Scientists at Johns Hopkins University have been praising the commendable efforts made by people across the globe by taking up ice bucket water challenge to raise awareness and funds for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). These donations have helped them to start research and achieving a major breakthrough in it.

It was a year ago that Facebook was full of videos and photos of people taking up ice bucket challenge as a way to contribute in medical research in ALS. Many criticized this move, but after a year more than $US220 million has been raised from global donations.

The scientists have claimed a major breakthrough in the research. Prof. Philip Wong and team said that the funding has facilitated their effort. For around 10 years, the team has been research on this topic. The breakthrough achieved is about a protein known as TDP-43.

In the starting it was known that people suffering from the disease often have clumps of this protein outside the nuclei of their brain cells. At that time, it was not known whether it was the disease’s cause or an effect of it.

In a study carried out on the protein in mice cells, the Hopkins scientists have explained how this protein breaks down and becomes sticky. The cell is unable to read the DNA and it dies within a few days. In the research, scientists have inserted a special protein designed to mimic TDP-43 in the neurons and the cells revived. The revelation could help in the treatment.