Elucidation of protection mechanisms against neuronal cell death under neuroinflammation by Aptameric biology | Planned Research

Planned Research B01

Leader: Dr. Shoko Hashimoto
Affiliation: Medical Innovation Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science
subject: Elucidation of protection mechanisms against neuronal cell death under neuroinflammation by Aptameric biology
Purpose: We previously identified CAPON (C-terminal PDZ ligand of nNOS）as a protein that links neuroinflammation and neuronal cell death. CAPON induces neuronal cell death by interacting with nNOS (neuronal nitric oxide synthase). On the other hand, it is unclear how cells are protected from CAPON-nNOS interaction induced neuronal toxicity under physiological condition. In this study, we elucidate a mechanism by which CAPON-nNOS interaction induces or protects against neuronal cell death utilizing DNA aptamers that inhibit or enhance CAPON-nNOS interaction.