Research Spotlight

Jason E. Gestwicki, PhD is the William B. Pratt Collegiate Professor in the Life Sciences Institute and associate professor of Pathology and Biological Chemistry at the University of Michigan Medical School.

The Gestwicki laboratory consists of a dedicated group of chemists and biologists who are exploring cutting-edge ways of treating Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In patients with AD and other dementias, brain cells appear to accumulate damaged proteins, whereas, in healthy people, brain cells use quality control systems to remove damaged proteins. In collaboration with the MADC, the Gestwicki group is interested in understanding how these brain cells are able to discriminate between normal and damaged proteins, because imbalances in this process are likely to lead to AD. In other words: how does the brain distinguish good proteins from bad? Can we re-balance this system and reduce the amount of damaged protein in the brain to treat AD? This idea is attractive because it addresses one of the underlying causes of AD.

The molecular chaperones are a group of factors involved in monitoring proteins for any signs of damage. The Gestwicki group is especially interested in how the molecular chaperones interact with damaged proteins and how they help remove them. Together with the MADC, U-M researchers have found that some molecular chaperones can tell the difference between damaged and normal proteins. These researchers have been able to use newly discovered chemicals to help the molecular chaperones remove the damaged ones in cellular models of AD. In these efforts, the Gestwicki group combines the tools of chemistry with modern biological models, providing an interdisciplinary training experience for students in the biomedical sciences. Although much more work is needed before these approaches can be translated into research involving individuals with AD.

For more information, gestwick@lsi.umich.edu

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