Molecular modeling of a set of peptides that can disrupt the GluA2-Cterm complex with STEP (Complex A) or BRAG2 (ComplexB).
Initiation of AMPA receptor internalization requires the interaction of the C-terminus of GluA2 with two proteins:
a.) With STEP to dephosphorylate Tyr876 and
b.) With BRAG2 to activate the small GTPase Arf6. The main idea of this project was that by inhibiting at least one of these two interactions of GluA2, the internalization of AMPAR will be reduced and therefore the synapse resistance will be increased, thus leading to improved cognitive functions.
The aim of this project was to generate 2-3 peptides with the potential to improve cognitive functions.
Head of Department
Professor Dr. Stefan Eugen Szedlacsek is the Head of the Enzymology Department at the Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy. He holds a PhD degree in Biotechnology from Polytechnic University of Bucharest as well as a MSc in Organic Synthesis (Polytechnic University- Bucharest) and MSc in Mathematics (Bucharest University). As a visiting scientist, he performed research in the field of cholesterol metabolism University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (USA), where he succeeded to evidence a new pathway in the metabolism of oxysterols. He is an “Alexander von Humboldt“ fellow and worked in Germany, in the Institute of Biochemistry (Kiel University) More...
Research Assistant
Horea Szedlacsek is a researcher in the Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy. Horea is currently working in Enzymology in the Enzymology.
Scientific Researcher
Rodica-Aura Badea is a researcher in the Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy. Rodica-Aura is currently working in Enzymology in the Enzymology.
Romanian Academy