Title of Research Project:
Role of Tau myopathies in neurodegeneration
Research Description:
The ubiquitin proteasomal system (UPS) provides both a precise and a general means for the cell to dispose of biologically non-useful proteins, including mutant, misfolded, damaged, terminally modified or over-accumulated proteins. The ability of UPS to cause rapid substrate-specific proteolysis also allows it to function as a molecular switch in many signaling pathways, quickly turning off the function of a target protein. Dysregulation of the UPS appears to be both a cause and result of neurodegenerative disease processes. In Alzheimer disease, hyperphosphorylation of the microtubule-associated protein tau results in the accumulation of paired helical tau filament involved in the formation of neurofibrillary tangles. In Joshi lab we will use a fly mutants of Tau protein to identify its functions in neurodegeneration.
If there is important prerequisite knowledge/skills required:
n/a
If working with another faculty member, please include their name below:
Dr. Sokol Todi, Wayne State University, School of Medicine