Tyrone Genade
Northwestern College, USA
Title: Nothobranchius furzeri: A new model organism of alpha-synucleinopathy
Biography
Biography: Tyrone Genade
Abstract
Nothobranchius furzeri is a fish with an average lifespan of 9 to 12 weeks and which is proving useful in aging research. In aging it demonstrates both pronounced neurodegeneration and several motor deficits. Analyses of brain protein extracts show an age-related accumulation of soluble alpha-synuclein oligomer in the brains of the fish. There is evidence that soluble alpha-synuclein oligomers are neurotoxic and cause dopaminergic neuron loss in Parkinson’s disease. Histological analysis with the SNL-4 antibody has demonstrated alpha-synucleinopathy in several Nothobranchius brain regions; notably the olfactory bulb and brain stem. Furthermore, supplementing the fish's food with NT-020 extended lifespan and reduced the soluble alpha-synuclein oligomer burden. The authors also hypothesize that the observed neurodegeneration may in part be attributed to several amino acid substitutions in the PARK7 gene (coding for DJ-1); one of which is at the clinically relevant 172 lysine residue.