/ microtubules Content for UC Davis en /news/children-rare-debilitating-brain-diseases-suffer-mutations-little-known-protein-complex <p>Thousands of times per year, a family’s moment of joy turns to unexpected grief. A seemingly healthy infant stops smiling or making eye contact. Their limbs grow weak. The tiny child suffers seizures and breathing problems.</p><p>Jawdat Al-Bassam, an associate professor of molecular and cellular biology at the University of California, Davis, often hears from these families. “I’ve gotten emails from folks all over the world,” he said.</p> May 08, 2026 - 9:40am Andy Fell /news/children-rare-debilitating-brain-diseases-suffer-mutations-little-known-protein-complex