Alzheimer's Disease Research - Completed Award
|
Eric Schon, Ph.D.
Columbia University
New York, NY
Title: ER-Mitochondrial interactions in familial Alzheimer's disease
Non-Technical Title: Mitochondrial defects in familial Alzheimer’s disease
Duration: April 1, 2008 - March 31, 2010
Award Type: Pilot
Award Amount: $150,000 |
Details:
We have discovered that presenilin-1, a protein that, when mutated, causes familial (i.e. inherited) Alzheimer disease, is located in a specialized compartment of the cell, called endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria-associated membranes (ER-MAM). This novel finding suggests a new mechanism by which the disease arises. We propose a number of experiments aimed at understanding the role of ER-MAM in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease.
Publications:
Area*Gomez E, de Groof AJC, Boldogh I, Bird TD, Gibson GE, Koehler CM, Yu WH, Duff KE, Yaffe MP, Pon LA, Schon EA (2009). Presenilins are enriched in endoplasmic reticulum membranes associated with mitochondria. Am. J. Pathol. 175, 1810-1816.
 
Schon EA, Area Gomez, E (2010). Is Alzheimer's disease a disorder of mitochindria-associated membranes? J. Alz. Dis. , accepted for publication, pending minor revisions.