Project

Analysis of human protein complexes in lysosomal pathologies

Code
bof/baf/4y/2024/01/462
Duration
01 January 2024 → 31 December 2025
Funding
Regional and community funding: Special Research Fund
Research disciplines
  • Medical and health sciences
    • Computational biomodelling and machine learning
    • Intracellular compartments and transport
    • Membrane structure and transport
    • Neurological and neuromuscular diseases
Keywords
protein complex Lysosomal storage disease Parkinson's Disease
 
Project description

Within the cells of our body, proteins are organized in complex machines essential for performing the required processes. The characterization of these protein complex machines, i.e. the identification of the parts, is therefore crucial to understand how these complexes operate and how defects lead to disease. In this project we will explore a transporter protein complex that operates in lysosomes. These organelles function as the cell's disposal system and are implicated in genetic diseases and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Using proximal proteomics we will characterize the transporter protein complex and investigate how mutations can lead to PD. In addition, we will use public data to create a multimodal AI model for the prediction of perturbance effects in genetic diseases affecting the lysosome. Combined, these complementary approaches can lead to new therapeutic opportunities in neurodegenerative conditions such as PD.