Online seminar: Imaging single mRNA molecules to investigate neuronal protein homeostasis

In this seminar, I will present our ongoing research in the regulation of expression of Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) in neurons undergoing pathophysiological stresses and their relation to age-related neurodegenerative diseases. HSPs are molecular chaperones in charge of protein folding and homeostasis. Cells have the remarkable capacity to tailor the expression of HSPs to the extent of protein damage. The precise regulation of HSP expression is required to safeguard protein homeostasis and ensure cell functionality upon proteotoxic damage. Using single-molecule fluorescence microscopy techniques, we have discovered that beyond the activation of HSP transcription, neurons regulate the subcellular distribution of HSP mRNAs in response to stress. mRNA localization to neuronal projections emerges as a novel mechanism to regulate the local pool of HSPs and sustain proteostasis at neuronal processes. As I share our advancements on this project, I will introduce several mRNA imaging technologies that are helping us to answer fundamental gene expression regulation questions.

This seminar will be given online via Zoom. Details in attached poster.