Putting a spin on developmental biology and flies to battle neurodegeneration

20 October 2022, 1.00 PM - 20 October 2022, 2.00 PM

Andreas Prokop, University of Manchester

SM2, ADA LOVELACE BUILDING

Host: Paul Martin

Abstract: Developmental biology asks fundamental questions at the level of cells and tissues, which is the level at which most diseases become manifest. By aiming to understand the underlying mechanisms, developmental biology research offers an important path for developing new treatments. We use developmental biology-style approaches to study neurodegeneration, in particular the degeneration of axons.

Axons are the up-to-meter long processes of neurons that form the biological cables running through our nerves. These delicate structures are usually irreplaceable and must survive for a century in humans. Consequently, they are prime lesion sites in injury, inherited or acquired neurodegeneration, and we lose ~40% even during healthy ageing!
To understand axon pathology, we do not focus on studying specific axonopathy-linked genes, but we ask: ‘How does an axon survive for 100 years?’ By using one standardised primary neuron system of the fruit fly Drosophila, we were able to establish functional data for ~70 genes. This unprecedented pool of data led to the discovery of novel, evolutionary conserved mechanisms of axon maintenance, and a promising new working model which can explain the unsolved paradox that distinct classes of neurodegenerative disorders tend to display surprisingly similar axon pathologies (wordpress.com/page/poppi62.wordpress.com/392).
We feel it to be important to raise awareness of the enormous opportunities that developmental biology-style strategies, and the use of versatile invertebrate model organisms, provide for biomedical research. I will therefore use the second part of my talk to explain how we promote this awareness through objective-driven long-term strategies of science advocacy, implemented in various initiatives of international reach.
 
Supported by BBSRC and BSDB

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Helen Weavers

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