Grant Details

Role of Chromogranin-mediated Secretion of Superoxide Dismutase Mutants in ALS Pathogenesis
Julien, PhD, Jean-Pierre, Urushitani, MD, PhD, Makoto
Laval University, Quebec, QC, CANADA

Project Summary
Chromogranins are molecules made by nerve cells that usually aid production and packaging of other proteins. Julien and his team discovered that chromogranins are binding to mutant SOD1, the protein linked to inherited forms of ALS. They found that when mutant SOD1 is secreted in cell culture, an inflammatory response is produced in microglia cells, and motor neurons die. New ALS mutant mice will be created to make more than normal amounts of chromogranins, to see if these mice will show worsened disease. Funding of this project is in partnership with ALS Canada (see also SOD1).