Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

2606

Date

2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Biology

Committee Chair

Ramin Homayouni

Committee Member

Amy Abell

Committee Member

Omar Skalli

Abstract

Nipsnap1 (4-nitrophenyl phosphatase domain and non-neuronal SNAP-25 like protein homolog 1) is a novel mitochondrial protein that was shown to interact with the intracellular domain of the Alzheimer's Disease amyloid precursor protein (APP). Genetic knock-down mouse model of the Nipsnap1 protein (NipKD) expression resulted in a reduction of brain size and an increase in neuronal death measured by immunohistochemical analyses (TUNEL, activated Caspase 3 and FluoroJade-C staining). In addition, there was a robust increase in activated Caspase 3 and FluoroJade-C staining in kainic acid treated NipKD brains compared to the WT brains. This work provides the first evidence that Nipsnap1 plays an important role in the brain and that disruption of Nipsnap1 expression causes neurodegeneration. Because Nipsnap1 directly interacts with APP, this work may provide new insights into the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease and possibly new therapeutic strategies.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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