Submission Date

4-28-2025

Document Type

Paper- Restricted to Campus Access

Department

Biology

Second Department

Neuroscience

Adviser

Erica Gorenberg

Committee Member

Lauren Makuch

Committee Member

Matthew Leslie

Department Chair

Denise Finney

Project Description

Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions of people worldwide and result from damage to neuronal cells in the brain essential for cognition, coordination, mobility, and strength. Prominent examples include ALS, Alzheimer's, Huntington’s, and Parkinson's Disease, whose precise origins remain unknown. However, they are associated with the accumulation of specific proteins in neurons: TDP-43 and FUS, amyloid beta peptide, polyQ, and alpha synuclein aggregates, respectively. Recent findings highlight DnaJB, a class of proteins with significant disaggregation capabilities, as a promising avenue for therapy. With 66 diverse J-protein isoforms, identifying which DnaJB variants effectively bind and interact with disease-associated proteins remains a critical pursuit. This study aims to elucidate these interactions using the Yeast Two Hybrid method, which could direct the design of targeted chaperone-based treatments that combat neurodegenerative diseases more effectively.

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