Studying Alzheimer’s With Mutant Worms

Researchers have developed a new worm strain as a model to study the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, particularly in the early stages.

AsianScientist (Nov. 3, 2016) – Researchers in Singapore have developed a Caenorhabditis elegans worm strain which expresses an amyloid beta protein fragment. Their work, published in Scientific Reports, could hasten the development of new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by the deposition of amyloid beta plaques in the brain. In this project, the researchers from Yale-NUS College, the National University of Singapore, and SingHealth Group have managed to create a novel nematode strain producing amyloid beta in their nerve cells.

Worms from this strain display neuromuscular defects, impairing metabolic function and age-dependent behavioral dysfunction resembling those seen in human Alzheimer’s disease. In contrast to previous models, this strain was designed specifically to accumulate amyloid beta slowly, with the aim of investigating events that occur early in Alzheimer’s.

The researchers’ findings have shown that mitochondrial bio-energetic deficit or biochemical ‘energy crisis’ is an early event in Alzheimer’s, characterized by the deterioration of certain functions and preceding the onset of global metabolic failure. These results are consistent with an emerging view that AD may be a metabolic, neurodegenerative disease.

“Given that we are starting to realize that mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important and early role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, interventions such as those involving mitochondrial-targeted therapeutics could prove a promising intervention strategy to prevent or delay the progression of Alzheimer’s disease,” said senior author assistant professor Jan Gruber from Yale-NUS College.



The article can be found at: Fong et al. (2016) Energy Crisis Precedes Global Metabolic Failure in a Novel Caenorhabditis elegans Alzheimer Disease Model.

———

Source: National University of Singapore; Photo: Shutterstock.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.

Asian Scientist Magazine is an award-winning science and technology magazine that highlights R&D news stories from Asia to a global audience. The magazine is published by Singapore-headquartered Wildtype Media Group.

Related Stories from Asian Scientist