Principal Investigators


Gideon Davies

Institution


University of York

Contact information of lead PI


Country


United Kingdom

Title of project or programme


O-GlcNAc as a strategy for the treatment of tauopathies

Source of funding information


Alzheimer's Research UK

Total sum awarded (Euro)


€ 117,580

Start date of award


01/10/2012

Total duration of award in years


3.5

Keywords


Research Abstract


The class of neurodegenerative diseases collectively termed the tauopathies result from the aggregation of a toxic form of tau in with it is hyper(over) phosphorylated. Less well known is that tau phosphorylation is reciprocal to its modification with a sugar termed “O-GlcNAc” and that O-GlcNAc levels are, concomitantly, reduced in the diseased brain. Proof of concept studies show that the toxic form of tau can be significantly reduced using a small molecule strategy that therapeutically raises tau-O-GlcNAc levels.  We aim to study, in detail, the human enzymes responsible for this effect, providing a platform on which to design the next generation of inhibitors providing a new approach to the treatment of tauopathies such as frontotemporal dementia.

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