Joel Watts

Associate Professor at the Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases/Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto

[Simon Mead @smead2]

Nice paper from colleagues emphasising prion-like mechanisms in dementia and inclusion of CJD in funding mechanisms for dementia disorders. Surprising resistance to prion-like mechanisms in dementia communities which imo often stems from poor understanding https://t.co/Yt9YCTHsnz

[Joel Watts @JoelWattsLab]

Perhaps the most important take home message from her work is that there is intrinsic structural variability between individual preparations of α-synuclein PFFs generated under identical conditions, which needs to be accounted for when designing and interpreting experiments.

[Joel Watts @JoelWattsLab]

Online now in Neuron, the final published version of @xsakuraphie's PhD work on α-synuclein strain generation:

Stochastic misfolding drives the emergence of distinct α-synuclein strains: Neuron https://t.co/SvxrzsKyOZ

[Joel Watts @JoelWattsLab]

One of Raphie's most interesting findings was that α-synuclein PFFs that mimic the seeding behavior of Parkinson's disease brain extract can be generated in vitro, but we only obtained the specific "PD-like" PFF polymorph once from 35 independent PFF preparations.

[Joel Watts @JoelWattsLab]

Genki's results support a model in which P4HB helps to stabilizes PrPC levels but also directly enhances the conversion of PrPC into PrPSc.

Although much work remains to be done, targeting P4HB may constitute a new strategy for modulating prion replication.

[Joel Watts @JoelWattsLab]

I'm pleased to announce that our latest prion-related work is now available as a preprint:
https://t.co/muwBc1nbGE
Dr. Genki Amano looked at whether P4HB, a protein disufide isomerase often identified in PrPC interactome screens, affects PrPC biosynthesis and prion replication.

[bioRxiv Neuroscience @biorxiv_neursci]

The Protein Disulfide Isomerase P4HB/PDIA1 Modulates PrPC Levels and Prion Replication https://t.co/6zHKFLyhGv #biorxiv_neursci

[Joel Watts @JoelWattsLab]

A huge congratulations to Dr. Raphaella So (@xsakuraphie) on a wildly successful PhD defense today. Also, a big thanks to @lvolpic for serving as the external examiner.

[Joel Watts @JoelWattsLab]

Mount Pilatus in Lucerne, Switzerland. Amazing scenery and a fun luge-like ride down the hill.

[Joel Watts @JoelWattsLab]

Congratulations to all involved in this study (including @speedyerica), and a special thanks to Benedikt Frieg and José Camino for performing the cryo-EM experiments.

[Joel Watts @JoelWattsLab]

It is my great pleasure to share our most recent work on α-synuclein strains: https://t.co/4EwLAS39OK. This study was led by @xsakuraphie and represents an amazing collaboration with Gunnar Schröder's lab.

[Joel Watts @JoelWattsLab]

Furthermore, our work reveals that stochastic misfolding results in considerable prep-to-prep variability among PFFs, which can influence downstream phenotypes. Thus, the inherent variability of α-synuclein PFFs needs to be accounted for when designing/interpreting experiments.

[Raphie @xsakuraphie]

Lab field trip!
It’s rare to have so many lab members at a conference together (since we usually travel in packs of 2-3, max)

Thanks TRIDENT for having us :) Excited to be learning here in the beautiful town of London, ON
@JoelWattsLab @SurabhiMehra5

[Joel Watts @JoelWattsLab]

@SurabhiMehra5 presenting her work on bank vole PrP knock-in mice at the @CJDFoundation Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration meeting.

[Neil Mabbott @neilmabbott1]

Today is #CJDAwarenessDay. #Prions cause devastating neurological diseases such as CJD in humans. No cures are available, but promising research recently presented at the #Prion2024 conference.
More about prion diseases and support here:
https://t.co/HwyxglYAsd

[Simon Mead @smead2]

Today is #CJDAwarenessDay. Check out this lovely collaborative video from the CJD International Support Alliance: https://t.co/mhYQSM8rZa…

Help us spread the word to raise awareness and hope.

#cjdawareness
#priondiseaseawareness