Project Code
MRCNMH26Ex Phillips
Project Type
Wet lab
Research Theme
Neuroscience and Mental Health
Project Summary Download
Summary
Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, are strongly linked to the aggregation of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). However, the precise triggers and mechanisms driving this process remain unclear without molecular structural detail. Determination of 3d protein structure has advanced recently (2024 Nobel Prize for AlphaFold) but only explains folded proteins. IDPs are a major frontier because they are exquisitely sensitive to environmental conditions, dramatically changing their molecular structure in response to stimuli and cellular trafficking. Here, we will determine IDP structures in their native physiological environments to explain their influence on the formation of toxic aggregates and neuronal cell death.
Lead Supervisor
Dr Jonathan Phillips
Lead Supervisor Email
University Affiliation
Exeter