Yeast as model for neurodegenerative diseases (Morbus Parkinson)

We investigate the molecular mechanisms that underlie the pathogenesis of Parkinson´s disease using S. cerevisiae as model organism. The research is focused on the protein α-synuclein, whose fibrillization and aggregation lead to dysfunction and death of neurons. Overexpression of α-synuclein in yeast cells results in aggregate formation and impaired yeast growth. We examine the correlation between its cytotoxicity, protein aggregation and localization pattern, as well as the role of α-synuclein post-translational modifications. By means of high-throughput screen of yeast essential mutant strains we are looking for modulators of α-synuclein induced toxicity.