Analysis of the role of physical activity in retrograde transport of autophagosomes during aging and neurodegeneration-related protein aggregation

• Grant number: 16/21449-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2016
• End date: November 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Cytology and Cell Biology
• Principal Investigator: Merari de Fátima Ramires Ferrari
• Grantee: Barbara Santos de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

It is believed that the loss of the protein quality control impairs the cellular events culminating in neurodegeneration, as protein inclusions are found distributed throughout the brain during aging and neurodegeneration. In view of this, the purpose of the present study is to evaluate the cellular quality control system in vivo, before the onset of neurodegeneration symptoms, using rotenone. Besides that, this study will also focus on the role of physical activity on autophagy in the course of sporadic neurodegeneration as a therapeutic/preventive strategy. Changes in intracellular trafficking may precede the formation of these aggregates that would be the first important factor for cell degeneration. The intracellular trafficking disorder in neurodegenerative diseases may be related to Rab7, Rab24, HDAC6, snapin and C9orf72 proteins, that are responsible for the retrograde transport of organelles and vesicles. Thus we intend to quantify all five proteins with Western Blotting, in hippocampal cells, substance nigra and locus coeruleus, in animals that practiced physical activity before and/or after the begging of neurodegeneration. (AU)