The coordination among protein synthesis, trafficking, secretion, and degradation is key for neuronal function, and for the maintenance of protein homeostasis in neurons. Disturbances in these cellular pathways underlie diverse brain diseases. Additionally, failure in degradation is associated with deficiencies in memory, and is related to protein aggregation, a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases. Membrane trafficking ensures the proper location of a myriad of proteins and can also be involved in their degradation. Stress-induced changes in this pathway are intended to protect the neuron. Mutations in several genes related to membrane trafficking have been linked to neuronal disorders. Cargo secretion by vesicles and especially the involvement of exosomes in cell-to-cell communication in the brain are becoming an important field of study. Additionally, neuronal exosomes delivered to the bloodstream are potential markers for the early detection of brain diseases.
The goal of this Research Topic is to update and evaluate the latest discoveries in protein degradation, vesicle trafficking, secretion and protein aggregation, as an essential part of neuronal protein homeostasis.
There are several unknown questions that we aim to be discussed and explored in this topic area such as:
-How are the major degradation pathways, the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), the apoptotic pathway and autophagy, regulated in neurons or their domains/ compartments?
-Is there an interplay between these degradation systems? How are they regulated in health or misregulated in neurodegenerative diseases?
-Is there an interplay between local protein degradation and aggregation?
-Can the aggregates be propagated by vesicles among the different cells in the brain or in other body parts?
-What are the roles of exosomes in the healthy and diseased brain?
-What is the utility of exosomes in the early diagnostic or prognosis of brain diseases?
To answer these questions and many others, this Research Topic will cover physiological degradation, vesicle secretion processes, and how they are altered in brain diseases. Manuscripts about modeling and basic principles of how protein aggregation occurs are welcome. This topic will include the publication of new models for the study of all the aforementioned processes. Research articles and reviews are welcome.
Dr. Vlatkovic is employed by BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals GmbH. The other Topics Editors declare no conflicts of interest with regard to their Research Topic.
The coordination among protein synthesis, trafficking, secretion, and degradation is key for neuronal function, and for the maintenance of protein homeostasis in neurons. Disturbances in these cellular pathways underlie diverse brain diseases. Additionally, failure in degradation is associated with deficiencies in memory, and is related to protein aggregation, a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases. Membrane trafficking ensures the proper location of a myriad of proteins and can also be involved in their degradation. Stress-induced changes in this pathway are intended to protect the neuron. Mutations in several genes related to membrane trafficking have been linked to neuronal disorders. Cargo secretion by vesicles and especially the involvement of exosomes in cell-to-cell communication in the brain are becoming an important field of study. Additionally, neuronal exosomes delivered to the bloodstream are potential markers for the early detection of brain diseases.
The goal of this Research Topic is to update and evaluate the latest discoveries in protein degradation, vesicle trafficking, secretion and protein aggregation, as an essential part of neuronal protein homeostasis.
There are several unknown questions that we aim to be discussed and explored in this topic area such as:
-How are the major degradation pathways, the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), the apoptotic pathway and autophagy, regulated in neurons or their domains/ compartments?
-Is there an interplay between these degradation systems? How are they regulated in health or misregulated in neurodegenerative diseases?
-Is there an interplay between local protein degradation and aggregation?
-Can the aggregates be propagated by vesicles among the different cells in the brain or in other body parts?
-What are the roles of exosomes in the healthy and diseased brain?
-What is the utility of exosomes in the early diagnostic or prognosis of brain diseases?
To answer these questions and many others, this Research Topic will cover physiological degradation, vesicle secretion processes, and how they are altered in brain diseases. Manuscripts about modeling and basic principles of how protein aggregation occurs are welcome. This topic will include the publication of new models for the study of all the aforementioned processes. Research articles and reviews are welcome.
Dr. Vlatkovic is employed by BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals GmbH. The other Topics Editors declare no conflicts of interest with regard to their Research Topic.
