Principal Investigators

    GUO, MING

    Institution

    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES

    Contact information of lead PI

    Country

    USA

    Title of project or programme

    Mitochondrial DNA Quality Control and Neurodegeneration

    Source of funding information

    NIH (NINDS)

    Total sum awarded (Euro)

    € 1,127,449.54

    Start date of award

    30/09/2013

    Total duration of award in years

    1

    The project/programme is most relevant to:

    Parkinson's disease & PD-related disorders

    Keywords

    Mitochondrial DNA, Quality Control, Nerve Degeneration, mitochondrial DNA mutation, PINK1 gene

    Research Abstract

    DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Neurodegenerative disorders affect more than 50% of the population over the age of 80, and no treatment can halt the progression of the disease. The strongest risk factor for most, if not all, neurodegenerative disorders are aging. Accumulation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations is seen during human aging and leads to cellular dysfunction and death. Thus strategies that reduce the mtDNA load and improve mitochondrial DNA quality are likely to delay aging and reduce the age-related pathologies of neurodegenerative diseases. We have generated a unique tool in living Drosophila melanogaster that contains engineered mtDNA mutations. We aim to use these flies to carry out genome-wide genetic screens to identify those genes, when mutated, lead to suppression or enhancement of the mitochondrial quality control.

    Lay Summary

    PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The central focus of this proposal explores how to fill a knowledge gap – to identify molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial DNA quality control and age-dependent neurodegeneration. The identification of these mechanisms will allow us to develop effective drug targets for delaying aging and age-dependent cellular dysfunction in neurons. This will improve our understanding of Parkinson’s disease, and may provide important insight into aging and other neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease.

    Further information available at:

Types: Investments > €500k
Member States: United States of America
Diseases: Parkinson's disease & PD-related disorders
Years: 2016
Database Categories: N/A
Database Tags: N/A

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