Huntington's disease (HD) is one of the most destructive progressive neurodegenerative disorders, and is caused by a genetic mutation in the HTT gene encoding Huntingtin. To assist Neil Aronin's ongoing HD research at UMass Medical Center, we developed a more efficient protocol for mouse cortical dissection and plating. In addition, we optimized a procedure for transducing cortical cells with lentiviruses containing various siRNAs and GFP, and assayed the percent knockdown by qRT-PCR. In the future, these procedures will help assess the role of previously identified protein partners of mutant Huntingtin that contribute to HD pathogenesis.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Westermayer, Krista-Marie
• Farren, Tianna Elizabeth

Contributors

• Neil, Aronin

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042511-124009

Advisor

• Adams, David S.

Year

• 2011

Sponsor

• University of Massachusetts Medical Center

Date created

• 2011-04-25

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biochemistry
• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright