Introducing
Your new presentation assistant.
Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.
Trending searches
autophagy in neurodegenerative diseases
5
Autophagy in Neurodegenerative Diseases
What is Autophagy ?
Autophagy
What happens if we don't take out the trash?
- Rotten smell
- Methane gas decomposition
- Build up of germs leading to illnesses
- infestation of cockroaches, flies and other insects
Autophagy = self eating
Autophagy is a natural cellular mechanism by which the cells in our body degrade unnecessary or damaged components within the cell
It is our bodies way of taking out cellular 'trash'.
Why is autophagy important?
in
- Maintain cellular homeostasis
- maintain nutrient levels
- Dysfunctional autophagy has been
associated with several pathologies and most neurodegenerative diseases.
- ( a build-up of cellular 'trash' in the brain can actually cause neurodegeneration, and even death.)
A study led by Newcastle University reserachers
Examined 5 families and found that affected members with a neurodegenrative disorder exhibited a mutation in the authophagy related (ATG) gene .
The mutants
neurodegenerative
All mutants have a genetic mutation called an X-Gene that causes their bodies to develop abilities that regular humans, homo sapiens, are unable to.
Gene mutations are permanent changes in the DNA base sequence of a single gene.
Neurones
diseases
Neurones are the cells in the brain that send and receive electrical and chemical signals.
Neurones do not divide and must last the entire lifespan of the organism. This is why autophagy is so important in neurons, as impaired autophagy can lead to the accumulation of toxic proteins and organelles.
The Future Looks Bright
Authophagy targeted treatments
ex:
- Autophagy enhancing drugs
- Gene therapy
Brings us closer to curing neurodevelopmental disease . YAY!!