Polyglutamine neurodegenerative diseases are a devastating family of inherited disorders that include Huntington Disease and spinobulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA). Long-term goals of this project are to identify molecular mechanisms of polyglutamine neurodegenerative disease, to determine specific therapeutic targets, and to develop mechanism-based therapies. Previous work demonstrated that Y-27632, an inhibitor of the rho-associated kinase p160ROCK, reduced polyglutamine aggregation and toxicity in cell and Drosophila models.
Aim 1 : Identify and characterize novel regulatory pathways and target molecules. We will complete a screen of a library of biologically active small molecules. We will also analyze hits from two prior screens of biologically active compounds. Results will be analyzed in a systematic fashion using a combination of genetic and pharmacologic approaches to determine new pathways of potential significance.
Aim 2 : Determine the molecular mechanism by which p160ROCK signaling influences polyglutamine aggregation and toxicity. The role of specific components of the p160ROCK signaling pathway will be tested in Drosophila. The molecular basis of polyglutamine protein association with actin will be tested, and its role in modulating polyglutamine aggregation determined.
Aim 3 : Test the activity of Y-27632 in preventing neurodegeneration in vivo. Bioactivity of Y-27632 in brain, and systemic toxicity shall be determined in order to plan an appropriate dosing regimen. Y-27632 inhibition of polyglutamine-dependent pathology in vivo shall be tested using a variety of behavior, rotarod, pathological and biochemical analyses in the R6/2 mouse model of HD.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
7R01NS050284-05
Application #
7990819
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-CDIN (01))
Program Officer
Sutherland, Margaret L
Project Start
2006-01-15
Project End
2009-12-31
Budget Start
2009-08-01
Budget End
2009-12-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$24,000
Indirect Cost
Name
Washington University
Department
Neurology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
068552207
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130
Diamond, Marc I; Cai, Shirong; Boudreau, Aaron et al. (2015) Subcellular localization and Ser-137 phosphorylation regulate tumor-suppressive activity of profilin-1. J Biol Chem 290:9075-86
Li, Mei; Yasumura, Douglas; Ma, Aye Aye K et al. (2013) Intravitreal administration of HA-1077, a ROCK inhibitor, improves retinal function in a mouse model of huntington disease. PLoS One 8:e56026
Shao, Jieya; Diamond, Marc I (2012) Protein phosphatase 1 dephosphorylates profilin-1 at Ser-137. PLoS One 7:e32802
Angeli, Suzanne; Shao, Jieya; Diamond, Marc I (2010) F-actin binding regions on the androgen receptor and huntingtin increase aggregation and alter aggregate characteristics. PLoS One 5:e9053
Frost, Bess; Jacks, Rachel L; Diamond, Marc I (2009) Propagation of tau misfolding from the outside to the inside of a cell. J Biol Chem 284:12845-52
Frost, Bess; Ollesch, Julian; Wille, Holger et al. (2009) Conformational diversity of wild-type Tau fibrils specified by templated conformation change. J Biol Chem 284:3546-51
Gerber, Anthony N; Masuno, Kiriko; Diamond, Marc I (2009) Discovery of selective glucocorticoid receptor modulators by multiplexed reporter screening. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106:4929-34
Chandra, Shweta; Shao, Jieya; Li, Jennifer X et al. (2008) A common motif targets huntingtin and the androgen receptor to the proteasome. J Biol Chem 283:23950-5
Shao, Jieya; Welch, William J; Diamond, Marc I (2008) ROCK and PRK-2 mediate the inhibitory effect of Y-27632 on polyglutamine aggregation. FEBS Lett 582:1637-42