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UID:20260420T002740EDT-3590igF3TO@132.216.98.100
DTSTAMP:20260420T042740Z
DESCRIPTION:\nSupported by the generosity of the Killam Trusts\, The Neuro'
 s Killam Seminar Series invites outstanding guest speakers whose research 
 is of interest to the scientific community at The Neuro and ɬŔď·¬ Univers
 ity.\n\n\nRegister Now\n\nTo watch online\, click here\n\nHost: Edward Fon
 \n\n\nHow Protein Aggregate Shape Shapes Neurodegeneration\n\nAbstract: Th
 e defining feature of synucleinopathies such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) a
 nd multiple system atrophy (MSA) is the presence of pathological α-synucle
 in aggregates within the brain. Evidence is accumulating that α-synuclein 
 can polymerize into structurally distinct “strains” of aggregates. We and 
 others have hypothesized that conformational strains of α-synuclein may be
  responsible for enciphering disease variability across PD\, MSA\, and rel
 ated neurodegenerative disorders. Using a transgenic synucleinopathy mouse
  model\, we have found that distinct disease phenotypes can be induced by 
 injection with different strains of recombinant or human disease-derived α
 -synuclein aggregates. Recently\, we have been investigating how different
  strains of α-synuclein aggregates may arise in the brain. We have found t
 hat considerable structural heterogeneity exists between individual prepar
 ations of recombinant α-synuclein fibrils. Moreover\, α-synuclein aggregat
 es formed spontaneously in the brains of transgenic mice are conformationa
 lly diverse. These results demonstrate that α-synuclein can spontaneously 
 form multiple strains within a consistent molecular environment\, which im
 plies that stochastic misfolding into distinct aggregate structures drives
  the emergence of α-synuclein strains.\n\nJoel Watts\n\nAssociate Professo
 r\, Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department 
 of Biochemistry\, University of Toronto\n\nDr. Watts obtained his PhD in L
 aboratory Medicine and Pathobiology from the University of Toronto and the
 n conducted postdoctoral research in the lab of Nobel laureate Stanley Pru
 siner at the University of California San Francisco. He is currently a Pri
 ncipal Investigator at the Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative D
 iseases\, an Associate Professor within the Department of Biochemistry at 
 the University of Toronto\, and is the Canada Research Chair in Protein Mi
 sfolding Disorders. His research interests include studying the role of se
 lf-propagating\, prion-like protein aggregates in Alzheimer’s disease and 
 Parkinson’s disease as well as exploiting the unique properties of the ban
 k vole prion protein to develop improved animal and cellular models of the
  prion disorders.\n
DTSTART:20260421T200000Z
DTEND:20260421T210000Z
LOCATION:de Grandpre Communications Centre\, The Neuro\, Montreal Neurologi
 cal Institute\, CA\, QC\, Montreal\, H3A 2B4\, 3801 rue University
SUMMARY:Killam Seminar Series: How Protein Aggregate Shape Shapes Neurodege
 neration
URL:/neuro/channels/event/killam-seminar-series-how-pr
 otein-aggregate-shape-shapes-neurodegeneration-372002
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