| Talk title | The interconnected roles between DNA repair, NAD+, and mitophagy in aging and neurodegeneration |
| Speaker | Prof. Evandro Fei FANG Assistant Professor Oslo University, Norway |
| Date & Time | 29 October 2018 (Mon) 11:00am-12:00pm |
| Venue | Room G003, E12 Building (University of Macau) |
| Abstract | Accumulation of damaged mitochondria is a hallmark of human aging and age-related neurodegeneration, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the molecular mechanisms of the impaired mitochondrial homeostasis and their relationship to AD are still elusive. Mitophagy is a cellular self-clearing process of damaged and superfluous mitochondria, thereby plays a fundamental role in maintaining neuronal function and survival. We hypothesize that defective mitophagy causes accumulation of damaged mitochondria, which further in combination with the two main AD causative factors, Aβ plaques and tau tangles, exacerbating AD progression. Restoration of mitophagy through upregulation of cellular NAD+, a primary cofactor in human health and life, forestalls pathology and cognitive decline in C. elegans and mouse models of AD. In view of the physiological feature of NAD+ in human, our study suggests immediate therapeutic potential. |
