Differential Expression of Mitochondrial Proteins in Alzheimer’s Disease Patients Compared to Age-Matched Controls

Abstract

To date, the pathology of Alzheimer’s remains unknown, and many researchers have focused on the mitochondria as playing a significant role in its progression. In earlier studies, it was found that mRNA levels of mitochondrial proteins of Alzheimer’s Disease patients were altered in mouse and human models. Additional research is warranted to determine if the mRNA differences are translated to the protein level. It has been shown that mitochondrial genes are differentially expressed in Alzheimer’s patients when compared to age-matched controls. I propose the levels of the translated gene product will also be altered. To test this hypothesis a proteomic approach utilizing 2-D electrophoresis to separate mitochondrial proteins and compare expression between diseased and control samples was used. These results are preliminary and further trials will cement the results.