Objective Protein misfolding is implicated as a pathogenetic mechanism in several neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson¿s disease (PD). In prion disease, the misfolded protein spreads between cells and acts as a ¿permissive template¿, causing protein in the recipient cell to misfold. In 2008 we reported that classical neuropathological changes gradually propagate from a PD patient¿s brain to a graft of healthy neurons, over one decade after surgery. These groundbreaking findings suggest that the protein ¿-synuclei may transfer between cells and propagate protein aggregation in a ¿prion-like¿ fashion in PD. This molecular disease mechanism might explain how protein aggregates gradually spread throughout the nervous system and promote progression of disease symptoms. This highly novel concept represents a hitherto poorly explored route of intercellular communication and might have far-reaching implications well beyond PD. Little is known about how various forms of ¿-synuclein are taken up; if they seed aggregation in the recipient cell; how they affect proteostasis in the recipient cells; if they are transported axonally; and, finally, whether they can cause spreading of PD-like pathology in the nervous system.In a multidisciplinary project will now examine the molecular mechanisms underlying translocation of ¿-synuclein across a lipid membrane, from the outside to the inside of a cell; what the molecular and functional consequences are of importing ¿-synuclein; what the dynamics of ¿-synuclein transfer are in vivo; whether aggregates of misfolded ¿-synuclein can spread from one region of the nervous system to another; what genes influence the likelihood for ¿-synuclein transfer to take place; and, finally if small molecules that inhibit ¿-synuclein can be identified. Our studies will shed light on what appears to be a new principle for pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders and can open up avenues for new therapeutic strategies. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologymedical and health sciencesclinical medicinesurgerynatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsprotein foldingmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepathologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologyparkinson Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-AG-LS5 - ERC Advanced Grant - Neurosciences and neural disorders Call for proposal ERC-2010-AdG_20100317 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant Coordinator MAX IV Laboratory, Lund University Address Paradisgatan 5c 22100 Lund Sweden See on map Region Södra Sverige Sydsverige Skåne län Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Patrik Brundin (Prof.) Administrative Contact Diana Jerman (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all MAX IV Laboratory, Lund University Sweden EU contribution € 2 499 998,00 Address Paradisgatan 5c 22100 Lund See on map Region Södra Sverige Sydsverige Skåne län Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Patrik Brundin (Prof.) Administrative Contact Diana Jerman (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data
