Abstract 1815 Investigating the Role of Palmitoylation in a C. elegans Model of Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons and the aggregation of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) into toxic forms. Palmitoylation, a reversible lipid modification mediated by palmitoyl-acyl transferases (PATs), has been implicated in altering α-syn stability and promoting its aggregation. This study aims to evaluate whether disrupting specific PATs, particularly PAT17, can reduce α-syn-induced neurodegeneration and preserve dopamine neuron function in a Caenorhabditis elegans model of PD.