Characterizing mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in GAN Abstract Elucidating cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders is my research focus. Giant axonal neuropathy is a severe motor and sensory neuropathy affecting both central nervous system and peripheral nerves. Up to date, 24 distinct mutations have been identified in human GAN patients. Our previous studies demonstrated that gigaxonin plays an important role in protein degradation via ubiquitin- proteasome dependent mechanisms. The question regarding how the toxicities of accumulated proteins lead to a devastating consequence: axonal degeneration and neuronal death, needs to be investigated. The proposed project is to characterize the pathological pathways and mechanisms of neurodegeneration resulted from GAN's disruption.
The first aim i s to analyze gigaxonin's null mice. This genetic model of GAN disorder in mice will allow us to observe the disease progress, to conduct a thorough examination throughout the entire disease course, and to analyze the pathology of the disorder.
The second aim i s to analyze axonal transport in the GAN null mice.
The third aim i s to investigate mechanisms how the toxic accumulation causes neurodegeneration occurring in GAN. The pathological hallmarks of GAN, including aberrant cytoskeletal organizations, abnormal morphology of mitochondria, and swollen axons with vesicular accumulations, could be found in many human neurological diseases. Thorough understanding of the pathological pathway in GAN may provide strong insight into other degenerative diseases.

Public Health Relevance

Characterizing mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration resulted from the various GAN-mutations Project Narrative Neurodegenerative problems associated with cognition, movement, and behavior of the aging population are becoming an increasing burden. The proposed project is to Study the pathological pathways of neurodegeneration resulted from distinct GAN mutations. The pathological hallmarks of GAN, including aberrant cytoskeletal organizations, abnormal morphology of mitochondria, and swollen axons with vesicular accumulations, could be found in many human neurological diseases. Thorough understanding of the pathological pathway in GAN may provide strong insight into other degenerative diseases. The finding may lead to therapies to target more common symptoms of neurodegeneration.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS060897-03
Application #
8075506
Study Section
Cell Death in Neurodegeneration Study Section (CDIN)
Program Officer
Gwinn, Katrina
Project Start
2009-07-01
Project End
2014-06-30
Budget Start
2011-07-01
Budget End
2012-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$340,408
Indirect Cost
Name
Stanford University
Department
Neurology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
009214214
City
Stanford
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94305
Wang, Wei; Lundin, Victor F; Millan, Ivan et al. (2012) Nemitin, a novel Map8/Map1s interacting protein with Wd40 repeats. PLoS One 7:e33094