Seminar of Applied Informatics - Cliff Abraham (21.6.2019)

Friday 21.6.2019 at 10:30, Lecture room I/32

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prof. Cliff Abraham (Director of the Brain Research New Zealand and the National centre for research excellence, member of the Royal Society of NZL):
Facilitation of memory mechanisms by secreted amyloid precursor protein-α in health and disease

Abstract:
Secreted amyloid precursor protein-α (sAPPα), produced by cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein in a pathway alternative to the production of amyloid-beta, is a neurotrophic, neuroprotective, neurogenic and memory enhancing protein. However its mechanisms of action have remained an enigma. We have found that, among its many effects, sAPPα facilitates the induction of long-term potentiation in the hippocampus, and that this occurs through upregulating trafficking of both AMPA and NMDA receptors to the cell surface. The receptor trafficking and the enhancement of LTP both require de novo protein synthesis. We have also shown that a lentivirus-based gene therapy approach over-expressing sAPPα in the hippocampus can ameliorate memory and LTP deficits without affecting inflammatory glial responses and amyloid deposition in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Thus sAPPα appears able to promote cognitive reserve, protecting brain function against disease toxicity.

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