Heppner
Fakultäten » Medizinische Fakultät » Neuropathologie, Institut für » Prof. Dr. Adriano Aguzzi » Heppner
Completed research project
| Title / Titel | Analysis of a SOD-like activity of the cellular prion protein in vivo | ||||
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| Abstract (PDF, 14 KB) | |||||
| Summary / Zusammenfassung | Prion diseases are characterized by the deposition of PrPSc, an abnormal form of the cellular prion protein PrPC, which is encoded by the Prnp gene. PrPC is highly expressed on neurons and its function is unknown. Recombinant PrPC was claimed to possess superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and it was hypothesized that abrogation of this function may contribute to neurodegeneration in prion diseases. This project aims to test this hypothesis in vivo by studying copper/zinc and manganese SOD activity in genetically defined crosses of mice lacking the Sod1 gene with mice lacking PrPC, and with hemizygous or homozygous tga20 transgenic mice which overexpress various levels of PrPC. In addition, we plan to analyze whether susceptibility for prion infection in mice lacking or overexpressing SOD1 is altered. | ||||
| Keywords / Suchbegriffe | prion disease, transgenic, copper/zinc SOD, manganese SOD, prion protein, PrPC | ||||
| Project leadership and contacts / Projektleitung und Kontakte |
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| Other links to external web pages | http://www.uzh.ch/pathol/neuropathologie/d/index.html | ||||
| Funding source(s) / Unterstützt durch |
Foundation Bonizzi-Theler-Stiftung, Stammbach-Stiftung |
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| Duration of Project / Projektdauer | Jan 2002 to Dec 2005 |