Objective
Intracellular aggregation of the human amyloid protein alpha-synuclein is causally involved in Parkinson’s disease, a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder. The goal of this project is to combine low-resolution, fluorescence-imaging methods with high-resolution in-cell NMR and EPR spectroscopy techniques to derive macroscopic and microscopic insights into alpha-synuclein aggregate structures directly in neuronal cells.
To achieve this goal, we will employ different sets of cultured neurons and investigate intracellular alpha-synuclein aggregation under defined conditions of mitochondrial dysfunction and cellular oxidative stress, two of the most common denominators of the disease. Importantly, we will also establish a human stem cell model for studying alpha-synuclein aggregation with high-resolution in-cell NMR and EPR methods, by using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derived dopaminergic neurons from Parkinson’s disease patients and control individuals.
Results from this study will provide novel insights into the native mechanisms of intracellular aggregate formation and ultimately enable novel pharmacological approaches for therapeutic intervention.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopy
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cells
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologyparkinson
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsenzymes
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsspectroscopy
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant
Host institution
7610001 Rehovot
Israel
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Beneficiaries (2)
7610001 Rehovot
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Participation ended
12489 Berlin