Investigation of the influence of human Aβ42 on distinct neurons in the Drosophila and its interaction with human LRRK2 and tau

• Main Authors: Cao, Zih-Syuan, 曹姿萱
• Other Authors: Chang, Hui-Yun
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/7jbgzy

碩士 === 國立清華大學 === 系統神經科學研究所 === 103 === Amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42) is a short peptide thought to play a central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, several studies suggest that Aβ42 might also have roles in many diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), frototemporal dementia with Parkinsonism linked Chromosome 17 (FTDP-17). While Aβ42 is becoming increasingly important, the characteristics of Aβ42 are largely unknown. In present study, we use Drosophula as a model and focus on Aβ42. We show that Aβ42 might have different effects on different type of neurons. It is the first time to explore the influence of Aβ42 in dopaminergic neuron. Surprisingly, we find that expression of Aβ42 in dopaminergic neuron leads no neuron degeneration, increases motor activity and has anti-aging effect. And expression of Aβ42 in serotonergic neuron also increases the motor behavior. In contrast, flies over-expressing Aβ42 in glutamatergic neuron exhibit progressive motor defect. In addition, we also explore the interaction between Aβ42 and other proteins such as tau and LRRK2. However, in our study we cannot find their interaction yet. Taken together, our results provide new insights of characteristics of Aβ42 in different types of neuron.