Protein Misfolding
(Dr. med. Marco Luciani)
In order to elicit physiological functions, proteins must follow an exact sequence of folding regardless of localization, turnover and molecular size. In case this is not respected, proteins can acquire erroneous spatial conformations by being folded in wrong ways and potentially eliciting cell stress.
Ongoing Research
Natriuretic peptides biology
Heart-and-Brain crosstalk
Protein misfolding and identification of therapeutical targets
Key triggers leading to cardiac amyloidosis development and progression
Luckily, cells are equipped with molecular machineries devoted in tagging, unfolding, refolding or degrade disarranged proteins (monomers). If these systems are overwhelmed, monomers will accumulate leading to the formation of oligomers and ultimately to amyloid fibers thus impairing cell, tissue and organ functions (Fig.1).
This axiom called protein folding, in case of derangement, is the biological foundation of aging systems characterizing various chronic neurodegenerative diseases as Alzheimer’s dementia and it has been recently recognized as a driving mechanism of damage in a number of cardiovascular diseases such cardiac amyloidosis and several others.
Figure 1.
Protein quality control system in health and disease
Research Team
Thamonwan Diteepeng, PhD student
Funding
University of Zurich
Schweizerische Herzstiftung/Swiss Heart Foundation
Olga Mayenfisch Stiftung