Drosophila brain with presenilin deficits and rescued brain (IMAGE)
Caption
Mutations in the presenilin gene, PSEN1, causes early onset of Alzheimer’s disease in humans and in fruit flies modified to have this gene. A new study led by researchers at Penn State revels that disrupting heparan sulfate–modified proteins in fruit flies suppressed neuronal death and corrected other cell deficits common in early stages of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. Pictured here are full fruit fly brains, stained with a marker that indicates cell death—brighter colors indicate higher presence of cell death. Top: A fly with deficits in the presenilin gene—a model for Alzheimer’s disease—with high levels of cell death. Bottom: A fly rescued by disrupting heparan sulfate–modified proteins.
Credit
Alyssa Connell/Selleck Lab/Penn State
Usage Restrictions
Credit must be given to the creator. Adaptations must be shared under the same terms.
License
CC BY-SA