YPIE Scientist: Amy Kim

Research: Quantitative comparison of pesticides and genes known to cause dopaminergic neuronal damage: Finding the optimal Drosophila melanogaster model for Parkinson’s disease (PD)

Abstract:

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects movement and strength, and causes pain. Although it is known that PD is caused by an error in the dopaminergic neuronal pathway, 8 genes in Drosophila melanogaster have been directly associated with causing dopaminergic neuronal damage and over 20 have been associated with PD. As a result of this inconsistent modeling, most PD research in fruit flies is contradictory and incomparable across studies. To resolve this issue, my team and I will create 10 experimental groups of fruit flies—6 groups with PD-associated genes and 4 groups that will be exposed to different PD-associated pesticides. Through negative geotaxis surveying, we will be able to identify the physiological and locomotive presence of PD in fruit flies. Through dissection, immunofluorescent staining, and microscopy, we will identify the level and presence of dopaminergic neuronal activity in the fruit flies. Ultimately, we are hypothesizing that we will make two major discoveries: the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) pesticide overall will cause the most significant and human-like effects in the fruit flies and pesticides will cause more damage than genes. We will use negative geotaxis to conclude which pesticide or gene group caused the most damage by seeing which group overall had the smallest percentage of fruit flies that climbed a significant distance. Furthermore, the microscopy will illustrate the presence of tyrosine-hydroxylase positive (TH+) neurons per cluster and the number of dopaminergic neurons. Overall, whichever experimental group has the smallest numbers of TH+ neurons, dopaminergic neurons, and % climbers of significant distance will prove to be the most effective and human-like prototype for PD in Drosophila melanogaster and whichever average of the groups (pesticides or genes) will create much more realistic models for PD as well.

Presentation Slides