On Thursday (04.12) we will host Kim Dore, PhD, Assistant Adjunct Professor (University of California San Diego). Her lecture will be entitled: "Molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic weakening and resilience in the context of Alzheimer’s disease". The lecture will take place at 3 p.m. in the CN lecture hall and it will be followed by a get together.

Abstract:

The Dore lab aims to understand how synapses are lost during aging and Alzheimer’s disease and to identify ways to protect those vulnerable connections. We found that increasing PSD-95 palmitoylation can rescue synaptic and memory deficits in AD model mice. To uncover the molecular mechanisms driving synaptic weakening, we use fluorescence lifetime imaging to monitor interactions between signaling proteins, glutamatergic receptors, and synaptic scaffolds, along with assays that quantify protein palmitoylation. By integrating these approaches with electrophysiology and mouse behavior, we hope to develop therapeutic strategies that stabilize synaptic proteins, promote resilience to neurodegeneration, and ultimately preserve synaptic function and memory.