BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk//
X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde: RNA as a key factor in driving or preventin
 g self-assembly of the TAR DNA-binding protein 43 - Prof. Annalisa Pastore
DTSTART:20181024T093000Z
DTEND:20181024T103000Z
UID:TALK113617@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Gabriella Heller
DESCRIPTION:Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar d
 egeneration (FTD) are incurable motor neuron diseases associated with musc
 le weakness\, paralysis and respiratory failure. Accumulation of TAR DNA-b
 inding protein 43 (TDP-43) as toxic cytoplasmic inclusions is one of the h
 allmarks of these pathologies. TDP-43 is an RNA-binding protein responsibl
 e for regulating RNA transcription\, splicing\, transport and translation.
  Aggregated TDP-43 does not retain its physiological function. We exploite
 d the ability of TDP-43 to bind specific RNA sequences to validate our hyp
 othesis that the native partners of a protein can be used to interfere wit
 h its ability to self-assemble into aggregates. We propose that binding of
  TDP-43 to specific RNA can compete with protein aggregation. Our study pr
 ovides a solid proof of concept to the hypothesis that natural interaction
 s can be exploited to increase protein solubility and could be adopted as 
 a more general rational therapeutic strategy.
LOCATION:Department of Chemistry\, Cambridge\, Unilever lecture theatre
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR