Project title: AutophagyThe cell's internal cleanup system that removes damaged or unneeded material. More control of glycogenA stored form of sugar used for energy. More in skeletal muscleMuscles that control movement and are commonly affected in Pompe disease. More
This year, the AMDA was fortunate to receive 13 grant applications focusing on both clinical research and basic science. It has been a challenge to select one.
Dr. Wyant was chosen because he has embarked on a discovery project aimed at solving a missing piece of the puzzle: how does glycogenA stored form of sugar used for energy. More enter the lysosomesA small part of the cell that acts like a recycling center, helping break down waste materials. More? A presumptive pathway for glycogenA stored form of sugar used for energy. More traffic to the lysosomeA small part of the cell that acts like a recycling center, helping break down waste materials. More is autophagyThe cell's internal cleanup system that removes damaged or unneeded material. More – a familiar term in Pompe diseaseA rare genetic disease in which the body cannot properly break down glycogen, leading to buildup tha... More research. In fact, one of the canonical images describing the disease illustrates glycogenA stored form of sugar used for energy. More transport to the lysosomeA small part of the cell that acts like a recycling center, helping break down waste materials. More in a vesicle (autophagosome) that is formed during autophagyThe cell's internal cleanup system that removes damaged or unneeded material. More. Although the concept of glycogenA stored form of sugar used for energy. More autophagyThe cell's internal cleanup system that removes damaged or unneeded material. More, called glycophagyA specialized process where glycogen is broken down through autophagy pathways. More, recently gained a lot of interest, the mechanism of muscle glycogenA stored form of sugar used for energy. More entrapment into the autophagosome has eluded the researchers for a long time.
The team developed a novel sophisticated approach to directly follow glycogenA stored form of sugar used for energy. More trafficking to the lysosomeA small part of the cell that acts like a recycling center, helping break down waste materials. More in skeletal muscleMuscles that control movement and are commonly affected in Pompe disease. More. The proposed study holds promise to identify a protein(s) that bind to glycogenA stored form of sugar used for energy. More and anchors it to the autophagosomal membrane. The implications of this discovery could be manipulated, so that less glycogenA stored form of sugar used for energy. More is delivered to the lysosomesA small part of the cell that acts like a recycling center, helping break down waste materials. More, thus limiting damage to the muscle cells.
The application scored highest for novelty and scientific depth. We welcome Dr. Wyant and his team to the Pompe community.
