Speaker: Natalie Reney
Candidate for Bachelor of Science in Biology
Time: 4:15 PM
Place: Trustee Hall 116
Supervisor: Dr. Allan Hook
Title: Examining the Human Presenilins, Amyloid Precursor Protein, and the Related Proteins in Caenorhabditis elegans to Find New Therapies for the Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract: The Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease. As society ages, this disease affects millions of people. The Familial Alzheimer's disease is caused by dominant mutations of three genes, PS1, PS2, and APP. PS1 and PS2 encode for the proteins, presenilin 1 and presenilin 2 (PS1 and PS2), and APP encodes for the amyloid precursor protein (APP) (Westlund et al, 1999). Caenorhabditis elegans can serve as a simple model system showing many similar genes that are homologues of human genes (Li;Greenwald, 1998). Early experiments have shown that human presenilins can be inserted into the C. elegans genome (Pines, 2002). The experiments have provided new ideas on how human presenilins function and their role in the Alzheimer's disease. They have also shown that C. elegans homologue genes can help to find new therapies for the Alzheimer's disease. The present studies build on this knowledge and are helpful in developing vaccination strategies, anti-inflammatory agents, and anti-cholesterol agents for treating or slowing the progression of the Alzheimer's disease.