Research
Area 4
Cell Biology of Pathologic Processes
Team manager
Jordi Alberch
(Facultat de Medicina)
Strategic objectives
1. Study of the cellular and molecular bases of mechanisms that regulate neuron death in neurodegenerative diseases, identifying intracellular pathways that protect the specific populations of neurons affected in these diseases. Our final objective is to identify new targets for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases of the basal ganglia.
2. Determination of the molecular mechanisms implicated in the interaction of the cytoskeleton with the system of cellular endomembranes (in particular, the Golgi apparatus), and structural and functional support in membrane traffic and cell motility. We also want to see how this interaction is altered, and by which mechanism(s), by toxic agents such as alcohol.
3. Characterization of the mechanisms of neuron differentiation of stem cells of different origins. Our objective is to identify different extrinsic and intrinsic factors that contribute to neural differentiation with the aim of using stem cells for cell replacement therapies.
Main lines of research
1. Molecular bases of the interaction of the actin dynamic with the Golgi apparatus and secretor traffic.
2. Role of diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid in the formation of transport vesicles and in the structural organization of the Golgi apparatus.
3. Study of transport to the blood brain barrier (BBB) of functionalized nanoparticles that carry bound antibodies or therapeutic peptides.
4. Study of the implication of neurotrophic factors and pathophysiology and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases of the basal ganglia.
5. Study of the role of mutated huntingtin in dopaminergic and glutamatergic signalling in models of Huntingdon disease.
6. Study of intracellular signal cascades implicated in the degeneration of striatal neurons in Huntingdon disease.
7. Study of the mechanisms of differentiation of embryo or adult stem cells into neurons for cell therapy in neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntingdon.