
Thesis subject
How do genetic variants affect α-synuclein associated pathology?
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a valuable model organism for studying human Parkinson Disease associated molecular mechanisms.
We use C. elegans carrying a human copy of the α-synuclein (SNCA gene) that show the characteristic protein accumulation. In C. elegans, we can study how individual genetic differences affect α-synuclein related pathology. We currently aim to find which genes in C. elegans are implicated in accelerated α-synuclein accumulation.
Techniques that will be used:
•Recombinant inbred lines
•gene expression analysis (qPCR)
•Light microscopy
•ELISA