Humanized yeast models to study aspects related to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease

Commonly used acronym: Humanized yeast

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Scope of the method

The Method relates to
  • Human health
The Method is situated in
  • Basic Research
  • Education and training
  • Translational - Applied Research
Type of method
  • In vitro - Ex vivo
This method makes use of
  • Other (e.g. bacteria)
Yeast models based on expression of ABeta peptides, protein Tau, alpha-synuclein or Synphilin-1

Description

Method keywords
  • Yeast
  • ABeta42
  • Tau
  • MAPT
  • SNCA
  • Alpha-synuclein
  • Synphilin-1
  • screening
  • drug testing
  • cell death
  • protein folding
  • protein aggregation
  • Alzheimer
  • Parkinson
Scientific area keywords
  • neuroscience
  • neurodegeneration
  • Tauopathy
  • Alzheimer
  • Parkinson
Method description

We have developed and validated yeast models to study aspects related to protein folding diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. These models allow to gain further insight in the cellular processes involved in the etiology of these disorders and as such identify potential new bio-markers and targets for therapeutic intervention. These models also offer a screening platform to identify lead compounds, to test the efficacy of drugs or to perform mode-of-action studies.

Lab equipment
  • Standard yeast culture equipment ;
  • Multi-well microplate spectrophotometer/shaker.
Method status
  • Published in peer reviewed journal

Pros, cons & Future potential

Advantages
  • Proven biological relevant eukaryotic system ;
  • Low cost compared to mammalian cell based systems.
Challenges

Unicellular model

Future & Other applications

Similar yeast based models can be developed for other disease areas, such as cancer.

References, associated documents and other information

References

http://lirias.kuleuven.be/cv?Username=U0009565

Links
Additional information

Contact person

Joris Winderickx

Organisations

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL)
Biology
Belgium
Flemish Region