Online tutored seminar: Mikko Airavaara

Wednesday May 20, 2020, the NeuroSchool PhD Program has invited Mikko Airavaara (University of Helsinki) for a seminar on endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis in cortex development and therapeutic implications for stroke

Abstract:

The lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the site of critical cellular processes such as protein maturation and trafficking, lipid synthesis and metabolism, intracellular vesicle production and calcium storage.  ER stress occurs when the ER lumen can no longer perform these functions to maintain cellular homeostasis.  The cell activates adaptive responses to ER stress such as the unfolded protein response (UPR) which serves to remove aberrantly fold proteins and restore the protein maturation and trafficking functions of the ER.  Growing evidence supports a key role of ER stress and UPR in the both the brain development, protective and pathological mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease) and neurological insults (e.g. stroke and TBI). Recent studies have found novel neuroprotective mechanisms derived from the lumen of the ER. Following a stroke, cells undergo differential ER stress and UPR activation based on their relative proximity the infarction and severity of the ischemic event. Reestablishing proper functioning of ER is essential for neuroregeneration and neurorepair at the neurovascular unit and modulating the UPR represents a therapeutic target for neuroprotection and improving brain repair processes from stroke.

4:00 pm – Discussion among students
5:00 pm – Seminar – Open to all on AMUconnect
6:00 pm – Discussion with M. Airavaara for PhD students only