Abstract 1604 Investigating the Transcriptional Regulation of the C. elegans Gene catp-6 by Exposure to Various Stressors

The human ATP13A2 gene codes for a lysosomal transporter that has been linked to the development of Parkinson's disease. A loss of function of the ATP13A2 gene causes impaired lysosomes, sensitivity to oxidative stress, and fewer dopaminergic neurons. ATP13A2 can be studied with an ortholog gene, catp-6, in Caenorhabditis elegans, a species of nematode that is often used as a model organism for the human nervous system. The goal of this project is to measure the transcriptional regulation of the catp-6 gene with and without exposure to various stressors, including rotenone, heat-shock, and starvation.