Unraveling the mystery of TDP-43, a versatile protein involved in several Neurodegenerative disorders

Backed by Mirella Vivoli Vega, Fabrizio Chiti, Carlo Costabile, Irene Vivoli, Jonas V Butkus, Nicolò Olimpo, Senatro Racioppi-Missanellesi, Camilla Spreafico, Todd Cording, Kevin Baldwin, and 216 other backers
$10,461
Raised of $10,000 Goal
104%
Funded on 8/29/17
Successfully Funded
  • $10,461
    pledged
  • 104%
    funded
  • Funded
    on 8/29/17

About This Project

The TDP-43 protein is involved in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and in frontotemporal dementia (FTLD). Furthermore, TDP-43 pathology has been associated with Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s diseases (Neuman M, Int J Mol Sci, 2009). It is becoming increasingly necessary to investigate the normal and pathological functions of this protein, whose purification is difficult to achieve as none has succeeded yet, but my preliminary results indicate that this is indeed possible.

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What is the context of this research?

The fundamental question I am trying to answer is what is the role of TDP-43, and how and why this protein is involved in several neurodegenerative disorders, which all display accumulations of misfolded TDP-43. So far, several attempts to purify the full-length protein have failed worldwide due to its biochemical properties and to its proneness to aggregation. In order to obtain its three-dimensional structure, which is of vital importance for studying its aggregation process, its structure-function relationship and the role of the pathologically relevant mutations, I should obtain a pure protein. My preliminary results suggest that this is indeed achievable. To do so, I would need to extensively use the instrument FPLC, a tool that will make the process easier and faster.

What is the significance of this project?

Neurodegenerative diseases represent an enormous disease burden, in terms of human suffering and economic cost. These diseases have touched many of our lives: changes in behavior and personality of our loved ones are the most challenging and distressing part of these diseases. Given the central role played by TDP-43 in these disorders (Cook C et al, Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2008; Buratti E, Adv Genet. 2009). and the difficulty in purifying this protein, our opportunities to progress on the understanding of these diseases are currently limited by the availability of a pure protein, which would opens an impressive number of studies on the pathobiology of this protein and opportunities to design rationally therapeutic strategies against its associated diseases.

What are the goals of the project?

The ultimate goal of this project is to purify the full-length TDP-43 to its native form. It will be first produced in the E. coli bacteria, then subjected to different possible strategies of purification, which will require not only a very skilled person in protein chemistry, but also an extensive use of the FPLC instrument. I will then continue to optimize the yield-to-cost ratio of the purification procedure, with the help of the FPLC equipment, and will obtain the tridimensional structure of full-length TDP-43.

I am very confident in the success of this challenging endeavor; for this reason I will focus our studies also on the other forms (pathological mutants) of TDP-43, which will help us to elucidate its vital role in the cell.

Budget

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The ultimate goal of this project is to purify the full-length TDP-43 to its native form. This will require not only a very skilled person in protein chemistry, but also an extensive use of the FPLC (Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography) instrument, which is vital for conducting the research project.

All other research-related expenses will be covered by Prof. Fabrizio Chiti's laboratory, at the University of Florence, Florence, Italy.

Endorsed by

Mirella joined our lab, in Florence, in October 2016 and she is very enthusiastic person. I found her she is very dedicated researcher and skilled with regards to protein science. Since she is here, I learned a lot from her: she is overflowing with ideas and very stubborn. I am really excited about her project and I am sure she will succeed.
TDP-43 is the central protein in amytrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and in frontotemporal lobal degeneration (FTLD). So far researchers have failed to purify this protein for detailed molecular and functional studies. Mirella Vivoli is a real expert in protein purification and has purified many proteins in the past. She is one of the few researchers that can succeed to this aim, but the instrumentation requested here for this project is essential to implement this activity. I therefore recommend full support to her.
I strongly endorse this project. Mirella worked in my laboratory for four years, and showed that she is a very talented and productive scientist. TPD-43 is a very important protein and learning more about its behaviour has a good chance of directly impacting on disease treatment. The work planned is directly in Mirella's area of expertise and this is a great mixture of an important problem, a good researcher, and an appropriate lab.
I have known Mirella for one year now and I could observe her dedication, commitment, passion and determination. She has the skills to carry out this research. The project is important and its success will have a positive impact on our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases. For these reasons, I strongly endorse Mirella's project.
I have known Mirella for 3 years and during this time she spent around a year helping me to purify Dengue and Zika envelope proteins. This was not a straightforward project and yet she succeeded in dealing with all the problems including some tricky protein re-folding. I highly recommend her for this project as her motivation and high competency at such challenging tasks should easily see her through

Project Timeline

I will expect to obtain the pure protein in its full-length by December 2017; after conducting biochemical and biophysical experiments, my goal is to crystallise the TDP-43 in order to obtain the three-dimensional structure; as in the cells, TDP-43 exists also in other forms, and it displays mutations associated to the disease, I will focus my investigation on the characterisation of them, to full elucidate the pathobiology of this versatile protein.

Jul 15, 2017

Project Launched

Dec 20, 2017

Perform all the steps for the purification and optimisation of the protocol for the native full-length form of TDP-43

Jun 29, 2018

Crystallography experiments in order to obtain the three-dimensional structure of native TDP-43

Apr 30, 2019

Purification and characterisation of TDP-43 mutant forms

Meet the Team

Mirella Vivoli, PhD
Mirella Vivoli, PhD
PhD in Biochemical Sciences

Affiliates

University of Florence, Italy
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Mirella Vivoli, PhD

I have been fascinated by science since my childhood, and I became interested in protein biochemistry during my education in Rome, Italy.

After getting a PhD in Biochemical Sciences at University of Rome Sapienza, Italy, I have spent two years as Postdoctoral fellow in the United States, at University of Baltimore, MD, and almost five year in the United Kingdom, at University of Exeter.

The extensive work I have done there, significantly improved my skills in the preparation and purification of proteins, allowing me to become an expert in protein chemistry.

Since October 2016, I have joined the Laboratory of Prof. Fabrizio Chiti, as Research Associate Fellow at University of Florence, Italy, providing me with a strong opportunity to add to the existing strengths in protein science, and to gain new skills in biophysics and cell biology.

My main interest in taking on this postdoctoral position was not only to further develop my understanding of protein structure and function, but also to "go against the grain".

It is well known that gifted Italian scientists have the tendency to emigrate, as I did myself in the past, due to the lack of political interventions, research funds, resources and facilities in Italy. Despite that, I think I can make the difference: I always pursue the implementation of my interests stubbornly and persistently due to the self-confidence and the awareness of my own strengths and acquired skills.

I will spend whatever time and energy are necessary to accomplish the task at hand.

Additional Information

ALL BACKERS WILL BE THANKED ONE BY ONE IN THE PAPER REGARDING THE TDP-43 RESEARCH.


Project Backers

  • 249Backers
  • 104%Funded
  • $10,461Total Donations
  • $42.01Average Donation
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