Science that matters: Master’s student investigates a drug’s therapeutic potential for improving autophagy in Huntington disease

Proteins are integral parts of our cells that maintain cell function. They can undergo modifications which make them more specialized and better suited for specific tasks.

This includes the addition of small molecules such as sugars and lipids to help customize proteins so they can perform their roles effectively. Proper protein location within the cell is crucial for their roles, but misplacement (called protein mislocalization) can impede functions, affecting cell operation.

Fatima Abrar’s research focuses on how protein mislocalization affects autophagy in Huntington disease (HD). Autophagy is the process of removing and recycling old and damaged cell parts—you can think of it as quality control for cells. It is an essential process that helps maintain cellular health and optimizes cell performance by removing toxic and non-functional parts in the cell. HD is a genetic neurodegenerative disorder that affects neurons in the brain. A defect in the cargo-loading stage of autophagy of a person with HD contributes to the accumulation of toxic proteins that eventually cause cell death. The disease leads to brain changes that cause abnormal involuntary movements, a severe decline in thinking and reasoning skills and mood changes. Patients with HD die 10-20 years after the onset of symptoms.

To learn more, please visit Science that matters: Master’s student investigates a drug’s therapeutic potential for improving autophagy in Huntington disease on Waterloo Science News.