Objective Accumulation of toxic aggregation-prone protein into inclusions and aggregates is the hallmark of most neurodegenerative diseases, a broad class of disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and polyglutamine diseases. In this proposal, using SBMA as a model of neurodegenerative polyglutamine-related disorder, we intend to move a step forward expanding knowledge of the neurodegeneration. In particular, we will provide a suitable model system such as differentiated iPSCs from SBMA patients to study molecular mechanism and to find out potential therapeutic drugs for neurodegenerative diseases. To define the disease-phenotype of differentiated iPS cells we will take advantage of specific features of SBMA disorders: the ligand-dependent toxicity of expanded AR. The ligand binding induces many modifications of AR protein such as phosphorylation. Since phosphorylation of mutant AR is an important determinant of SBMA pathogenesis, we will also characterize the impact of cyclic adenosine monophosphatate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) signaling on the mutant AR toxicity. Then, we will use this information to identify agents that promote such modifications to find out potential therapy. Therefore, in order to develop treatment for SBMA, we will test the effect of neuropeptides that stimulates the generation of cAMP and activation of PKA, to target SBMA spinal cord. Fields of science medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologyprostate cancermedical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologydementiaalzheimernatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsmedical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologyparkinsonmedical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologyamyotrophic lateral sclerosis Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IOF - Marie Curie Action: "International Outgoing Fellowships for Career Development" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IOF See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IOF - International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF) Coordinator FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIA Address Via morego 30 16163 Genova Italy See on map Region Nord-Ovest Liguria Genova Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Claudia Schiaffino (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution No data
