Identifying regulators of synapse growth and function in Frontotemporal Dementia, Rab8, TAK1 and POSH.

Date

Jul 21, 2015

Time

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Speaker

Sean Sweeney

Affiliation

University of York, Department of Biology, York, United Kingdom

Language

en

Main Topic

Biologie

Other Topics

Biologie

Host

Elisabeth Knust

Description

Our research centres on the role of the endosome in regulating signals controlling synapse growth. Appropriate regulation of synaptic growth is a key mechanism in regulating the fidelity of synaptic communication. We work with the larval neuromuscular junction of Drosophila as a model glutamatergic synapse to identify endosomal related signaling events occurring in human pathological conditions. We study, in particular, a form of Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) that has a perturbed endosome due to ESCRT III dysfunction. We have used our Drosophila model of FTD in a forward screen to identify factors regulating progression of the disease at the neuronal level and we are now building up a picture of cellular events critical to the maintenance of normal synaptic function when affected by this form of FTD. I will describe the results of our screen to date and outline the role that autophagy, innate immunity and mis-regulation of synaptic growth signals have to play in synaptic dysregulation in FTD.

Last modified: Jul 22, 2015, 9:48:43 AM