Project A01

Project A01 focuses on the mechanisms underlying motor neuron function and plasticity by investigating the protective role of Plastin 3 (PLS3) in a mouse model of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The protective effect of PLS3 will be further analysed in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a second motor neuron disease, to verify the cross-disease protective potency. Two putative pathomechanisms, i.e., disturbed Caveolin-dependent endocytosis and calcium homeostasis, will be investigated by molecular, cellular, and in vivo methods in genetically modified SMA and ALS mouse models, overexpressing PLS3.