Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Neuroscience and Neurobiology Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience

Western University

Alzheimer's disease

Publication Year

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Neuroscience and Neurobiology

Lysosomes Mediate Rab27b-Dependent Secretion Of Beta-Amyloid, Shany Lahan Oct 2019

Lysosomes Mediate Rab27b-Dependent Secretion Of Beta-Amyloid, Shany Lahan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Extracellular deposition of beta-Amyloid (Aβ) is an early event in Alzheimer’s disease development. However, it is not known how Aβ is secreted. Lysosomes readily undergo calcium-dependent exocytosis, a process that relies on small GTPase Rab27b. In addition, lysosomal enzymes have been found within extracellular amyloid plaques. We hypothesized that lysosomes mediate Rab27b-dependent exocytosis of Aβ. Neuro-2a cells were transfected with wild-type or mutant Rab27b constructs and/or a lysosomal marker. Cells were incubated with Aβ monomers and imaged using a confocal microscope before and after stimulation of calcium-dependent exocytosis. We observed a significant decrease in lysosome and Aβ co-localization post-treatment in …


Cerebral Lactate Metabolism And Memory: Implications For Alzheimer's Disease, Richard Andrew Harris Apr 2017

Cerebral Lactate Metabolism And Memory: Implications For Alzheimer's Disease, Richard Andrew Harris

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by amyloid plaques that are comprised of aggregated amyloid-beta peptides. These toxic proteins promote mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal cell death. A shift in metabolism away from oxidative phosphorylation and toward aerobic glycolysis, with the concomitant production of lactate, affords neurons a survival advantage against amyloid-beta toxicity. Recent evidence now suggests that aerobic glycolysis in the brain plays a critical role in supporting synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. However, the role of aerobic glycolysis and lactate metabolism in AD-mediated cognitive decline is unknown. My objective was to test the hypotheses that aerobic glycolysis …