University:
Boston University
Course:
CAS BI 108 | Biology 2
Academic year:

2022
Views:

58

Pages:

1
Author:

Gironetzbk3n

Computationally Predicting the Effects of Tau Protein Hyperphosphorylation on AMPA Receptors in a Single Neuron Model Introduction Discussion/Conclusions Results ● Tau proteins stabilize microtubules in neurons ● Various diseases (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, CTE) associated with defective tau ● Previous studies show that hyperphosphorylated tau protein negatively affects AMPA receptor function ● Understanding its effects on AMPA receptors could help understand Alzheimer’s as well ● AMPA receptors farther from soma ● Baseline graph ● 500ms ● AMPA receptor conductivity 99.43% of baseline ● 500ms ● Conductivity 8.61% of baseline ● 500 ms Methods ● Used Saraga et. al. model ● Reduced AMPA receptor conductance to simulate how tau protein hyperphosphorylation would affect the receptors in real life ● Stimulus of fixed value is applied to neuron, and voltage over time at preset locations on dendrites are measured ● Current = -.05 nA, resting voltage = -70 mV ● Image A is the diagram of the neuron used to make the model ● Image B is the diagram of the neuron modelled using a computer ● AMPA receptors closer to soma ● Baseline 500ms ● Conductivity 70.71% of baseline, 500ms ● Conductivity 9.25% of baseline, 500ms f ● Reduced AMPA receptor conductivity results in fewer action potentials ● Effect magnified when AMPA closer to soma ● No AP when conductivity 8.61% of baseline in case when AMPAR farther from soma ● No AP when conductivity 9.25% of baseline in case when AMPAR closer to soma ● Results show that decreased number of viable AMPA receptors leads to decreased action potential strength and frequency ● Affected AMPA receptor closer to soma likely has more effects than compared to receptors farther from soma ● Results suggest that defective tau protein could contribute to memory loss by reducing frequency and strength of APs because AMPAR damage ● Since Alzheimer’s is very complicated, more complex studies with multiple neuron networks must be done