936B Poster - 15. Models of human disease
Friday April 08, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Authors:
Jackson Diltz; Emily Peterson; Em Teixeira; Angela Brillantes; Taylor Barber; Kristen Burke; Simone Alvares; Madeline O'Connor; Arianna Libby; Maximus Morton; Marla Tipping

Affiliation: Providence College

Keywords:
a. neural degeneration; b. metabolism

Metabolic reprogramming is a common hallmark of many diseases. In recent years the focus on metabolic change in cancerous tissues has increased. However, fewer studies have investigated the metabolic shifts in neurodegenerative diseases. Metabolic reprogramming in neurodegenerative disease has been well documented and glucose uptake is even used as a key diagnostic indicator for some of these diseases. We are utilizing an established Drosophila model of the neurodegenerative disease, Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), to investigate metabolic changes using a whole brain energy utilization assay. We are also studying the underlying molecular mechanism by using quantitative PCR to measure expression of metabolic enzymes in the brain and whole body. The goal of this project is to determine if metabolism could be a potential target for treatment of FTD.