PgmNr D1350: Use of a Drosophila model of Alzheimer’s Disease to screen GPCR ligands for potential AD therapeutics.

Authors:
K. A. Innamorati 1 ; S. D. Mhatre 2 ; P. T. Nguyen 1 ; D. R. Marenda 1


Institutes
1) Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA; 2) Stanford University, Stanford, CA.


Keyword: neural degeneration

Abstract:

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease characterized by global cognitive decline and neuronal death. As of 2015, 5.3 million Americans are suffering from AD, but only five drugs are available for palliative treatment. A major challenge for AD drug discovery is the lack of animal models for the disease. One popular model, Drosophila melanogaster, is valued for a variety of reasons, including quick generation times- making it a good model of aging. Our lab has created a transgenic Drosophila model of AD which displays amyloid-containing puncta in adult brains, motor coordination difficulties, and memory deficits that can be rescued with gamma secretase inhibitor L-685,458. The model also displays altered external morphology, including melanotic plaques on the proboscis and abdomen, and crumpled wings. Using this model, our lab performed a drug screen of 264 GPCR-binding ligands. Results were organized into enhancers and suppressors of external morphology. Both Memantine (Namenda) and Donepezil (Aricept), palliative drugs available for AD treatment, scored as suppressors on our model. From our screen, we will study new compounds for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.