Principal Investigators

    MORFINI, GERARDO ANDRES

    Institution

    UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO

    Contact information of lead PI

    Country

    USA

    Title of project or programme

    Addressing the contribution of JNK3 to axonal pathology in Huntingtons disease

    Source of funding information

    NIH (NINDS)

    Total sum awarded (Euro)

    394624.7706

    Start date of award

    15/09/2016

    Total duration of award in years

    2

    Keywords

    MAPK10 gene, Huntington gene, Huntington Disease, Axonal Transport, Pathology

    Research Abstract

    Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal-dominant, progressive neurodegenerative disorder featuring devastating clinical symptoms that include motor deficits, cognitive decline, and behavioral impairments. To date, most research efforts towards the development of therapeutic strategies in HD have been largely focused on inhibition of pathways leading to the loss of neuronal somata, failing to address or even consider the progressive loss of neuritic connectivity that takes place much earlier in the disease process. Building on a solid body of published findings and strong preliminary data, this application aims to illuminate specific therapeutic targets and mechanisms underlying axonal pathology in HD. Experiments proposed under Aim 1 will directly evaluate the contribution of JNK3, a potentially druggable protein kinase, to the axonal pathology induced by mutant huntingtin (mhtt) expression in vivo. Extending these studies, experiments under Aim 2 will identify JNK3-dependent alterations in the phosphorylation of axonal proteins induced by mhtt. Together, these studies will help illuminate a molecular basis linking JNK3 activation to mhtt-induced axonal degeneration.

    Further information available at:

Types: Investments < €500k
Member States: United States of America
Diseases: N/A
Years: 2016
Database Categories: N/A
Database Tags: N/A

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