Control of Reelin signaling in the brain through the disordered protein Disabled-1
Name of applicant
Ida Marie Vedel
Title
Postdoctoral Fellow
Institution
Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP)
Amount
DKK 2,064,251
Year
2024
Type of grant
Reintegration Fellowships
What?
During formation of the brain, neurons need to move from their original position to new locations. This requires transmission of signals from a protein outside the cell to proteins inside the cell. This project investigates how these signals are passed on through interactions and modifications of the proteins and what properties of the proteins that are required for the interactions to take place.
Why?
Dysfunctional neuron migration results in brain malformation and diseases. Therefore, it is important to understand how, at a molecular level, the relevant proteins move, communicate, and how they select other proteins to communicate with, in order for neurons to travel to their destination. Such a molecular model could have huge potential for the treatment of diseases related to neuron migration.
How?
I will use nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, to study the protein Disabled-1, a key protein in neuronal migration. NMR is a unique technique that can determine dynamics and interaction sites of proteins at atomic resolution. This will allow me to map the specific properties of Disabled-1, and how these properties change when it receives and passes on signals to or from other proteins.