Benjamin Wolozin, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Pharmacology and Neurology
Department of Pharmacology
M.D., Ph.D.: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Principal Investigator: Click this Link for the Official Site of Laboratory of Neurodegeneration
Research Interests
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LokutAVYhVw
Pathophysiology of Neurodegeneration: Molecular and cellular Biology
Overview: The goal of our research is to understand the mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases, and then to use this understanding to develop novel interventions for disease. Much of our research focuses on the central concept of regulated protein aggregation. Protein aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases is classically thought to occur as an unwanted byproduct of protein misfolding. Human genetic studies increasingly highlight the importance of RNA binding proteins in neurodegenerative diseases. This is important because RNA binding proteins use protein aggregation as part of a normal regulated, physiological mechanism controlling protein synthesis. Aggregated RNA binding proteins for stress granules, transport granules, P bodies, as well as participate in physiological functions, such as activity dependent protein synthesis. Our research investigates the hypothesis that dysfunction of RNA granules causes neurodegenerative diseases. Over active stress granule formation could contribute to neurodegeneration by altering patterns of protein synthesis and sequestering proteins that regulate cell death processes. Hypo-active stress granules, leads to inadequate neuroprotection.
For more information go to the Wolozin lab home page (also called the Laboratory of Neurodegeneration): WolozinLab Home Page.
Recent News
Selected Publications
Jiang L, Lin W, Zhang C, Ash PEA, Verma M, Kwan J, van Vliet E, Yang Z, Cruz AL, Boudeau S, Maziuk BF, Lei S, Song J, Alvarez VE, Hovde S, Abrisambra JF, Kayed R, Hovde S, Abisambra JF, Kuo MH, Kanaan N, Murray ME, Crary JF, Zhao J, Cheng JX, Petrucelli L, Li H, Emili A, Wolozin B, Interaction of tau with HNRNPA2B1 and N6-methyladenosine RNA mediates the progression of tauopathy. Mol. Cell (2021), S1097-2765(21)00622. PMID: 34453888 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.07.038.
Ash, PEA, Lei S, Shattuck J, Boudeau S, Carlomagno Y, Medalla M, Mashimo B, Socorro G, Al-Mohanna LFA, Jiang L, Öztürk MM, Knobel M, Ivanov P, Petrucelli P, Wegmann S, Kanaan NK, Wolozin B, TIA1 potentiates tau phase separation and promotes generation of toxic oligomeric tau, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021, 118(9):e2014188118. PMID: 33619090.
Wolozin B, Ivanov P. Stress Granules and Neurodegeneration. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2019 Nov;20(11):649-666. doi: 10.1038/s41583-019-0222-5. Epub 2019 Oct 3. Review. PubMed PMID: 31582840.
Jiang L, Ash PEA, Maziuk BF, Ballance HI, Boudeau S, Abdullatif AA, Orlando M, Petrucelli L, Ikezu T, Wolozin B. TIA1 regulates the generation and response to toxic tau oligomers Acta Neuropathol. 2019 Feb;137(2):259-277. doi:10.1007/s00401-018-1937-5. Epub 2018 Nov 21. PubMed PMID: 30465259; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6377165.
Silva JM, Rodrigues S, Sampaio-Marques B, Gomes P, Neves-Carvalho A, Dioli C, Soares-Cunha C, Mazuik BF, Takashima A, Ludovico P, Wolozin B, Sousa N, Dysregulation of autophagy and stress granule-related proteins in stress-driven Tau pathology. Cell Death Differ.
2019 Aug;26(8):1411-1427.doi:10.1038/s41418-018-0217-1. Epub 2018 Nov 15. PubMed PMID: 30442948; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6748085.
Ash PEA, Dhawan U, Boudeau S, Lei S, Carlomagno Y, Knobel M, Al Mohanna LFA, Boomhower SR, Newland MC, Sherr DH, Wolozin B. Heavy Metal Neurotoxicants Induce ALS-Linked TDP-43 Pathology 2019 Jan 1;167(1):105-115. doi:10.1093/toxsci/kfy267. PubMed PMID: 30371865; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6317426.
Maziuk BF, Apicco DJ, Cruz AL, Jiang L, Ash PEA, da Rocha EL, Zhang C, Yu WH, Leszyk J, Abisambra JF, Li H, Wolozin B. RNA binding proteins co-localize with small tau inclusions in tauopathy. Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2018 Aug 1;6(1):71. doi: 10.1186/ s40478-018-0574-5. PubMed PMID: 30068389; PubMed Central PMCID:PMC6069705.
Apicco DJ, Ash PEA, Maziuk B, LeBlang C, Medalla M, Al Abdullatif A, Ferragud A, Botelho E, Ballance HI, Dhawan U, Boudeau S, Cruz AL, Kashy D, Wong A, Goldberg LR, Yazdani N, Zhang C, Ung CY, Tripodis Y, Kanaan NM, Ikezu T, Cottone P, Leszyk J, Li H, Luebke J, Bryant CD, Wolozin B. Reducing the RNA binding protein TIA1 protects against tau-mediated neurodegeneration in vivo. Nat Neurosci. 2018
Jan;21(1):72-80. doi: 10.1038/s41593-017-0022-z. Epub 2017 Nov 20. PubMed PMID: 29273772; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5745051.
Ash PEA, Stanford EA, Al Abdulatif A, Ramirez-Cardenas A, Ballance HI, Boudeau S, Jeh A, Murithi JM, Tripodis Y, Murphy GJ, Sherr DH, Wolozin B. Dioxins and related environmental contaminants increase TDP-43 levels. Mol Neurodegener. 2017 May 5;12(1):35. doi: 10.1186/s13024-017-0177-9. PubMed PMID: 28476168; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5420162.
Russo A, Scardigli R, La Regina F, Murray ME, Romano N, Dickson DW, Wolozin B, Cattaneo A, Ceci M. Increased cytoplasmic TDP-43 reduces global protein synthesis by interacting with RACK1 on polyribosomes. Hum Mol Genet. 2017 Apr 15;26(8): 1407-1418. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddx035. Erratum in: Hum Mol Genet. 2019 Apr1;28(7): 1226. PubMed PMID: 28158562; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6075552.
Vanderweyde T, Apicco DJ, Youmans-Kidder K, Ash PEA, Cook C, Lummertz da Rocha E, Jansen-West K, Frame AA, Citro A, Leszyk JD, Ivanov P, Abisambra JF, Steffen M, Li H, Petrucelli L, Wolozin B. Interaction of tau with the RNA-Binding Protein TIA1 Regulates tau
Pathophysiology and Toxicity. Cell Rep. 2016 May 17;15(7):1455-1466. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.04.045. Epub 2016 May 6. PubMed PMID: 27160897; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5325702.
Zhou Q, Yen A, Rymarczyk G, Asai H, Trengrove C, Aziz N, Kirber MT, Mostoslavsky G, Ikezu T, Wolozin B, Bolotina VM. Impairment of PARK14-dependent Ca(2+) signalling is a novel determinant of Parkinson’s disease. Nat Commun. 2016 Jan 12;7:10332. doi: 10.1038/ncomms10332. PubMed PMID: 26755131; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4729940.
Asai H, Ikezu S, Tsunoda S, Medalla M, Luebke J, Haydar T, Wolozin B, Butovsky O, Kügler S, Ikezu T. Depletion of microglia and inhibition of exosome synthesis halt tau propagation. Nat Neurosci. 2015 Nov;18(11):1584-93. doi:10.1038/nn.4132. Epub 2015 Oct 5. PubMed PMID: 26436904; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4694577.
Saha S, Ash PE, Gowda V, Liu L, Shirihai O, Wolozin B. Mutations in LRRK2 potentiate age-related impairment of autophagic flux.
Mol Neurodegener. 2015 Jul 11;10:26. doi: 10.1186/s13024-015-0022-y. PubMed PMID: 26159606; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4702340.
Dusonchet, J., Li, H., Guillily, M., Stafa, K., Pyenson, N., Liu, M., Derada, C., Glauser, L., Mamais, A., Citro, A., Saha, S., Liu-Yesucevitz, L., Schneider, B.L., Aebischer, P., Yue, Z., Bandopadhyay, R., Glicksman, M., Moore, D.J., Collins, J. J., Wolozin, B., A Parkinson’s disease gene regulatory network identifies RGS2 as a modulator of LRRK2 activity. Human Mol. Genetics. 2014 (EPub, PMID: 24794857).
Liu-Yesucevitz, L., Lin, A, L, Xu, Y, Kobrin, A, Petrucelli, L and Wolozin, B. ALS-linked mutations cause dysfunction of TDP-43-enriched RNA granules J. Neuroscience 34:4167-74 (2014). PMID: 24647938.
Boyd, J.D., Lee, P., Feiler, M.S., Zauur, N., Liu, M., Concannon, J., Ebata, A., Wolozin, B.*, Glicksman, M.A.* A high content screen identifies novel compounds that inhibit stress-induced TDP-43 cellular aggregation and associated cytotoxicity. . J. Biomol. Screening. (2014) 19:44-56. *Co-senior authors. PMID: 24019256.
Ravid, K., Wolozin, B., The scientist’s pledge. Academic Medicine 88(6):743 (2013) PMID: 23708595.
Wolozin, B., Regulated protein aggregation: Stress granules and neurodegeneration. Mol. Neurodegen. 7(1):56 (2012). PMID: 23164372. (Epub).
Vanderweyde, T., Yu, H., Varnum, M., Liu-Yesucevitz, L., Citro, A., Ikezu, T., Duff, K., Wolozin, B., Contrasting Pathology of Stress Granule Proteins TIA-1 and G3BP in Tauopathies. J. Neurosci. 32:8270-83 (2012). PMCID: PMC3402380.
McKee AC, Stein TD, Nowinski CJ, Stern RA, Daneshvar DH, Alvarez VE, Lee HS, Hall G, Wojtowicz SM, Baugh CM, Riley DO, Kubilus CA, Cormier KA, Jacobs MA, Martin BR, Abraham CR, Ikezu T, Reichard RR, Wolozin BL, Budson AE, Goldstein LE, Kowall NW, Cantu RC. The spectrum of disease in chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Brain. 2012 Dec 2. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23208308
Di Domenico, FD, Sultana, R, Ferree, A, Smith, K., Barone, E., Perluigi, M., Coccia, R., Pierce, W., Cai, J., Mancuso, C., Squillace, R., Wiengele, M., Wolozin, B. and Butterfield, D.A., Redox Proteomics Analyses of the Influence of Co-expression of Wild Type or Mutated LRRK2 and Tau on C. elegans Protein Expression and Oxidative Modification: Relevance to Parkinson Disease. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling, 17(11)1490-506 (2012). PMC3448940.
Chan, D., Citro, A., Cordy, J.M., Shen, G.C., Wolozin, B. Rac1 Rescues Neurite Retraction Caused By G2019s Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2 (LRRK2). J. Biol. Chem.; 286(18): 16140-9 (2011). PMCID: PMC3091223.
Liu-Yesucevitz, L., Bilgutay, A., Zhang, Y-Z., Mehta, T., Citro, A., Zaruur, N., McKee, A., Bowser, R., Sherman, M., Petrucelli, L. and Wolozin, B., Tar DNA Binding Protein-43 (TDP-43) Associates with Stress Granules: Analysis of Cultured Cells and Pathological Brain Tissue. Plos ONE 2010; (5(10). pii: e13250). PMCID: PMC2952586.
Hsu, CH, Chan, D, Greggio, E., Saha, S., Guillily, M.D., Ferree, A., Raghavan, K., Shen, GC, Segal, L., Ryu, H., Cookson, M. R., Wolozin, B., MKK6 binds and regulates expression of Parkinson’s disease-related protein LRRK2. J. Neurochem., 112(6):1593-604 (2010). PMCID: PMC2856721.
Saha, S., Guililly, M., Ferree, A., Lanceta, J., Chan, D., Ghosh, J., Segal, L., Raghavan, K., Hsu, C., Cordy, J., Kuwahara, T., Iwatsubo, T., Goldstein, L., Cookson, M, and Wolozin, B., LRRK2 modulates vulnerability to mitochondrial dysfunction in C. elegans J. Neurosci., 29:9210-8 (2009). PMCID: PMC3127548.
Solomon A, Kåreholt I, Ngandu T, Wolozin B, Macdonald SW, Winblad B, Nissinen A, Tuomilehto J, Soininen H, Kivipelto M. Serum total cholesterol, statins and cognition in non-demented elderly. Neurobiol Aging. 2007 Nov 15.
Wolozin B, Wang SW, Li NC, Lee A, Lee TA, Kazis LE. Simvastatin is associated with a reduced incidence of dementia and Parkinson’s disease. BMC Med. 2007 Jul 19;5:20.
Wolozin B, Bednar MM. Interventions for heart disease and their effects on Alzheimer’s disease. Neurol Res. 2006 Sep;28(6):630-6. Review.
Wolozin B, Manger J, Bryant R, Cordy J, Green RC, McKee A. Re-assessing the relationship between cholesterol, statins and Alzheimer’s disease. Acta Neurol Scand Suppl. 2006;185:63-70. Review.
Takashima A, Shimojo M, Wolozin B. The players on the gamma-secretase team. Nat Med. 2006 Jul;12(7):766-7; discussion 767.
Bednar MM, Lee TA, Wolozin B, Weiss KB. Coronary artery bypass grafting is not a risk factor for dementia or Alzheimer disease. Neurology. 2006 Jun 13;66(11):1785; author reply 1785.
Ved R, Saha S, Westlund B, Perier C, Burnam L, Sluder A, Hoener M, Rodrigues CM, Alfonso A, Steer C, Liu L, Przedborski S, Wolozin B. Similar patterns of mitochondrial vulnerability and rescue induced by genetic modification of alpha-synuclein, parkin, and DJ-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans. J Biol Chem. 2005 Dec 30;280(52):42655-68. Epub 2005 Oct 19.
Lee TA, Wolozin B, Weiss KB, Bednar MM (2005) Assessment of the emergence of Alzheimer’s disease following coronary artery bypass graft surgery or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. J Alzheimers Dis. 2005 Aug;7(4):319-24. [Abstract]
Ved R, Saha S, Westlund B, Perier C, Burnam LG, Sluder A, Hoener M, Rodrigues CM, Alfonso A, Steer C, Liu L, Przedborski S, Wolozin B (2005). Similar patterns of mitochondrial vulnerability and rescue induced by genetic modification of alpha -synuclein, parkin and DJ-1 in C. elegans. J Biol Chem. 2005 Oct 19; [Epub ahead of print] [Abstract]
Poon HF, Frasier M, Shreve N, Calabrese V, Wolozin B, Butterfield DA. (2005) Mitochondrial associated metabolic proteins are selectively oxidized in A30P alpha-synuclein transgenic mice–a model of familial Parkinson’s disease. Neurobiol Dis. 2005 Apr;18(3):492-8. [ Abstract ]
Frasier M, Walzer M, McCarthy L, Magnuson D, Lee JM, Haas C, Kahle P, Wolozin B. (2005) Tau phosphorylation increases in symptomatic mice overexpressing A30P alpha-synuclein. Exp Neurol. 2005 Apr;192(2):274-87. [ Abstract ]
Snyder H, Wolozin B. (2004) Pathological proteins in Parkinson’s disease: focus on the proteasome. J Mol Neurosci. 2004;24(3):425-42. Review. [ Abstract ]
Snyder H, Mensah K, Hsu C, Hashimoto M, Surgucheva IG, Festoff B, Surguchov A, Masliah E, Matouschek A, Wolozin B. (2004) beta-Synuclein reduces proteasomal inhibition by alpha-synuclein but not gamma-synuclein. J Biol Chem. 2005 Mar 4;280(9):7562-9. Epub 2004 Dec 9. [ Abstract ]
Wolozin B. (2004) Cholesterol, statins and dementia. Curr Opin Lipidol. 2004 Dec;15(6):667-72. [ Abstract ]
Wolozin B. (2004) Apolipoprotein E receptor LR11: intersections between neurodegeneration and cholesterol metabolism. Arch Neurol. 2004 Aug;61(8):1178-80. No abstract available. [ Abstract ]
Wolozin B, Brown J 3rd, Theisler C, Silberman S. (2004) The cellular biochemistry of cholesterol and statins: insights into the pathophysiology and therapy of Alzheimer’s disease. CNS Drug Rev. 2004 Summer;10(2):127-46. Review. [ Abstract ]
Brown J 3rd, Theisler C, Silberman S, Magnuson D, Gottardi-Littell N, Lee JM, Yager D, Crowley J, Sambamurti K, Rahman MM, Reiss AB, Eckman CB, Wolozin B. (2004) Differential expression of cholesterol hydroxylases in Alzheimer’s disease. J Biol Chem. 2004 Aug 13;279(33):34674-81. Epub 2004 May 17. [ Abstract ]
Frasier M, Wolozin B. (2004) Following the leader: fibrillization of alpha-synuclein and tau. Exp Neurol. 2004 Jun;187(2):235-9. Review. No abstract available. [ Abstract ]
Ghanbari HA, Ghanbari K, Harris PL, Jones PK, Kubat Z, Castellani RJ, Wolozin BL, Smith MA, Perry G. (2004) Oxidative damage in cultured human olfactory neurons from Alzheimer’s disease patients. Aging Cell. 2004 Feb;3(1):41-4. [ Abstract ]
Petrucelli L, Dickson D, Kehoe K, Taylor J, Snyder H, Grover A, De Lucia M, McGowan E, Lewis J, Prihar G, Kim J, Dillmann WH, Browne SE, Hall A, Voellmy R, Tsuboi Y, Dawson TM, Wolozin B, Hardy J, Hutton M. (2004) CHIP and Hsp70 regulate tau ubiquitination, degradation and aggregation. Hum Mol Genet. 2004 Apr 1;13(7):703-14. Epub 2004 Feb 12. [ Abstract ]
Wolozin B. (2003) Cholesterol and the biology of Alzheimer’s disease. Neuron. 2003 Jan 8;41(1):7-10. [ Abstract ]
Choi P, Snyder H, Petrucelli L, Theisler C, Chong M, Zhang Y, Lim K, Chung KK, Kehoe K, D’Adamio L, Lee JM, Cochran E, Bowser R, Dawson TM, Wolozin B. (2003) SEPT5_v2 is a parkin-binding protein. Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 2003 Oct 7;117(2):179-89. [ Abstract ]
Perry G, Castellani RJ, Smith MA, Harris PL, Kubat Z, Ghanbari K, Jones PK, Cordone G, Tabaton M, Wolozin B, Ghanbari H. (2003) Oxidative damage in the olfactory system in Alzheimer’s disease. Acta Neuropathol (Berl). 2003 Dec;106(6):552-6. Epub 2003 Aug 29. [ Abstract ]
Pappolla MA, Bryant-Thomas TK, Herbert D, Pacheco J, Fabra Garcia M, Manjon M, Girones X, Henry TL, Matsubara E, Zambon D, Wolozin B, Sano M, Cruz-Sanchez FF, Thal LJ, Petanceska SS, Refolo LM. (2003) Mild hypercholesterolemia is an early risk factor for the development of Alzheimer amyloid pathology. Neurology. 2003 Jul 22;61(2):199-205. [ Abstract ]
Snyder H, Mensah K, Theisler C, Lee J, Matouschek A, Wolozin B. (2003) Aggregated and monomeric alpha-synuclein bind to the S6′ proteasomal protein and inhibit proteasomal function. J Biol Chem. 2003 Apr 4;278(14):11753-9. Epub 2003 Jan 24. [ Abstract ]
Wolozin B. (2003) Cyp46 (24S-cholesterol hydroxylase): a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer disease. Arch Neurol. 2003 Jan;60(1):16-8. Review. No abstract available. [ Abstract ]
Egashira N, Iwasaki K, Ishibashi M, Hatip-Al-Khatib I, Wolozin B, Mishima K, Irie K, Fujiwara M. (2002) Hypoxia enhances beta-amyloid-induced apoptosis in rat cultured hippocampal neurons. Jpn J Pharmacol. 2002 Dec;90(4):321-7. [ Abstract ]
Petrucelli L, O’Farrell C, Lockhart PJ, Baptista M, Kehoe K, Vink L, Choi P, Wolozin B, Farrer M, Hardy J, Cookson MR. (2002) Parkin protects against the toxicity associated with mutant alpha-synuclein: proteasome dysfunction selectively affects catecholaminergic neurons. Neuron. 2002 Dec 19;36(6):1007-19. [ Abstract ]
Wolozin B. (2001) Peering into proteolysis with presenilins. J Alzheimers Dis. 2001 Apr;3(2):191-193. [ Abstract ]
Wolozin B. (2002) Cholesterol and Alzheimer’s disease. Biochem Soc Trans. 2002 Aug;30(4):525-9. Review. [ Abstract ]
Golts N, Snyder H, Frasier M, Theisler C, Choi P, Wolozin B. (2002) Magnesium inhibits spontaneous and iron-induced aggregation of alpha-synuclein. J Biol Chem. 2002 May 3;277(18):16116-23. Epub 2002 Feb 15. [ Abstract ]
Wolozin B, Golts N. (2002) Iron and Parkinson’s disease. Neuroscientist. 2002 Feb;8(1):22-32. Review. [ Abstract ]
Ahn BH, Rhim H, Kim SY, Sung YM, Lee MY, Choi JY, Wolozin B, Chang JS, Lee YH, Kwon TK, Chung KC, Yoon SH, Hahn SJ, Kim MS, Jo YH, Min do S. (2002) alpha-Synuclein interacts with phospholipase D isozymes and inhibits pervanadate-induced phospholipase D activation in human embryonic kidney-293 cells. J Biol Chem. 2002 Apr 5;277(14):12334-42. Epub 2002 Jan 30. [ Abstract ]
Choi P, Golts N, Snyder H, Chong M, Petrucelli L, Hardy J, Sparkman D, Cochran E, Lee JM, Wolozin B. (2001) Co-association of parkin and alpha-synuclein. Neuroreport. 2001 Sep 17;12(13):2839-43. [ Abstract ]
Palacino JJ, Murphy MP, Murayama O, Iwasaki K, Fujiwara M, Takashima A, Golde TE, Wolozin B. (2001) Presenilin 1 regulates beta-catenin-mediated transcription in a glycogen synthase kinase-3-independent fashion. J Biol Chem. 2001 Oct 19;276(42):38563-9. Epub 2001 Aug 14. [ Abstract ]
Wolozin B. (2001) A fluid connection: cholesterol and Abeta. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001 May 8;98(10):5371-3. No abstract available. [ Abstract ]
Wolozin B, Kellman W, Ruosseau P, Celesia GG, Siegel G. (2000) Decreased prevalence of Alzheimer disease associated with 3-hydroxy-3-methyglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors. Arch Neurol. 2000 Oct;57(10):1439-43. [ Abstract ]
Choi P, Ostrerova-Golts N, Sparkman D, Cochran E, Lee JM, Wolozin B. (2000) Parkin is metabolized by the ubiquitin/proteosome system. Neuroreport. 2000 Aug 21;11(12):2635-8. [ Abstract ]
Ostrerova-Golts N, Petrucelli L, Hardy J, Lee JM, Farer M, Wolozin B. (2000) The A53T alpha-synuclein mutation increases iron-dependent aggregation and toxicity. J Neurosci. 2000 Aug 15;20(16):6048-54. [ Abstract ]
Wolozin B, Behl C. (2000) Mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders: Part 2: control of cell death. Arch Neurol. 2000 Jun;57(6):801-4. Review. No abstract available. [ Abstract ]
Wolozin B, Behl C. (2000) Mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders: Part 1: protein aggregates. Arch Neurol. 2000 Jun;57(6):793-6. Review. No abstract available. [ Abstract ]
Palacino JJ, Berechid BE, Alexander P, Eckman C, Younkin S, Nye JS, Wolozin B. (2000) Regulation of amyloid precursor protein processing by presenilin 1 (PS1) and PS2 in PS1 knockout cells. J Biol Chem. 2000 Jan 7;275(1):215-22. [ Abstract ]
Postdoctoral Positions Available
Postdoctoral Fellowship in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Mechanisms, Biomarkers and Novel Therapeutics
A position is available in the laboratory of Benjamin Wolozin to study the role of RNA binding proteins in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson disease. RNA binding proteins regulate RNA metabolism, including splicing, activity dependent protein synthesis, RNA transport and the translational stress response. This group of proteins contains many members that are genetically linked to neurodegenerative diseases.
Work from the laboratory demonstrates that these genetic mutations increase the tendency to form stress granules and the size of neuronal transport granules in models of ALS. We have also recently shown that misfolding and mislocalization of tau protein functions to regulate the translational stress response, increasing stress granule formation in the process. Conversely, knockout or knockdown of the RNA binding protein TIA1 protects against the pathophysiology of tau (Vanderweyde, Apicco, et al, Cell Reports, 15, 1–12 May 17, 2016).
We are applying multiple different techniques to understand the biology/pathophysiology of these proteins, including “omic” approaches such as iCLIP, RNAseq, proteomics, bacTRAP and SuNSET, and classic approaches, such as Immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. The laboratory investigates these proteins using animal models of disease (e.g., P301S MAPT mice and TDP-43 over-expressing mice), genetic knockouts (e.g., TIA1 -/- and MAPT -/-), primary neuronal culture and cell culture.
The laboratory is well funded and positions are available immediately.
Contact
Office: R-614
Phone: 617-358-1995; Fax: 617-414-2651
Lab Phone: 617-358-1996
Email: bwolozin@bu.edu