Parkinsonʼs disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disease, lacks a diagnostic biomarker or disease-modifying treatment. Altered lipids have been connected to PD, but their precise role in the disease is unknown. Here, we probed the phospholipid composition of PD models using RNAi knockdown of 6 familial PD genes in C. elegans followed by mass spectrometry. This analysis revealed a trend towards increased phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) species aft er knockdown of unc-26, the ortholog of human PARK20. Subsequent analysis of unc-26 mutants substantiated this result, as a significant PE increase was observed. We conclude that lipids changes may be a viable diagnostic biomarker or therapeutic target for PARK20-related PD.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Donovan, Kathleen E.

Subject

• Health
• Well-Being

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 21061
• E-project-050121-141829

Keyword

• Health
• Parkinson's disease
• C. elegans
• Lipids
• Mass spectrometry

Advisor

• Olsen, Carissa Lynn

Year

• 2021

Date created

• 2021-05-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biochemistry

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2022-05-16