May 10, 2011
Identification of Nrf2 Activators Using an In Silico Modeling Platform, Followed by Evaluation of These Compounds in an Alpha-Synuclein Model of PD
The project is a collaboration with Dr. Jeffrey A. Johnson from University of Wisconsin, Madison, and sponsored by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
Project Objective/Rationale:
Oxidative stress has been implicated in the etiology of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Under such conditions, the transcription factor NF-E2-related factor (Nrf2) binds to antioxidant response element (ARE) to induce antioxidant and phase II detoxification enzymes. Numerous studies suggest that activation of the Nrf2–ARE pathway in the brain confers protection to vulnerable neurons, making neuronal Nrf2 up-regulation an attractive therapeutic strategy for PD.