Understanding Alzheimer's Better  [18.01.23]

Learning through research - and contributing to a better understanding of diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's: With Humboldt reloaded, that's possible! In her project, Bachelor’s student Alexandra Wisser examined proteins in the complex eye of fruit flies, which serve as model organisms in research. She reports on her experiences in the Online-Kurier.

 

You want to participate in Humboldt reloaded yourself or have questions? Write an email to the team at humboldt-reloaded@uni-hohenheim.de. You can find all projects and information at humboldt-reloaded.uni-hohenheim.de.

 

 

I AM...

Alexandra Wisser, 5th semester Nutritional Sciences

 

IN MY PROJECT...

I am investigating whether Rab proteins have an impact on TRPL recycling. Rab (Ras-related in brain) proteins regulate the transport of membrane proteins. If these are defective, i.e. if the transport of membrane proteins does not function properly, this can lead to neurodegenerative diseases in neuronal cells, for example, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. This research can therefore help to better understand and treat such diseases.

 

IN PRACTICAL TERMS, THIS MEANS...

To study this transport process, in my project I used the TRPL (transient receptor potential like) ion channel in the complex eye of fruit flies as a living (in vivo) model system. Here, I knocked down individual Rap proteins in the eye of the fly by using the gene scissors ts-CRISPR and investigated how this affects TRPL recycling. Under the microscope, I thus screened for Rab proteins involved in TRPL recycling in the fly's eye.

 

MY LIGHTBULB MOMENT…

Some of the Rab proteins screened actually had an effect on TRPL recycling!

 

MY TIP...

Bring time and patience and you can learn a lot!

 

AND NOW...

I will do my Bachelor’s thesis in the field of physiology to learn even more different methods and topics.