Adam Walker
BSc (Hons) (Tas)
Brain Injury and Repair Group
Neurodegeneration Laboratory
Contact details
Email: | |
Phone (office): | +61 (0)3 8344 1869 |
Phone (lab): | +61 (0)3 8344 5665 |
Fax: | +61 (0)3 9348 1707 |
Supervisors
- Dr Julie Atkin ( (La Trobe University and Howard Florey Institute)
- Prof Malcolm Horne (Howard Florey Institute)
PhD Project Title
- Protein disulphide isomerase and the unfolded protein response in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Mutant SOD1, which causes ALS, forms insoluble protein inclusions (green) in neurons in cell culture (nuclei are shown in blue).
Research Interests
- Molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration, focusing on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease of motor neurons which causes paralysis and death within a few years of symptom onset. Most cases of ALS have no known cause, although a small percentage of patients have known genetic defects. Currently there are no effective treatments for the disease. Our research focuses on understanding the molecular and cell biology of ALS, with the aim of identifying key pathogenic mechanisms that could be targeted for treatment in patients.
Laboratory Techniques
- Molecular biology (DNA vector design, construction, site-directed mutagenesis, sequencing and PCR)
- Cell culture (primary neuron and astrocyte culture, cell lines, transfection, siRNA, toxicity and viability assays)
- Imaging (immunocytochemistry, live and fixed fluorescence and confocal microscopy)
- Biochemical assays (immunoprecipitation, SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting, S-nitrosylation biotin switch assay)
- Drug trials (SOD1G93A mouse behaviour, drug administration, perfusion and dissection)
Additional Information
Currently a final-year PhD student, Centre for Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award and an Australian Rotary Health (Rotary Club of Bendigo South) Margaret Roberts Motor Neuron Disease Scholarship.
Publications
1. Walker AK, (2010) Protein disulfide isomerase and the endoplasmic reticulum in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Journal of Neuroscience, 30: 3865-7.
2. Walker AK, Farg MA, Bye CR, McLean CA, Horne MK, Atkin JD, (2010) Protein disulphide isomerase protects against protein aggregation and is S-nitrosylated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Brain, 133: 105-16.
3. Atkin JD, Farg MA, Walker AK, McLean C, Tomas D, Horne MK, (2008) ‘Endoplasmic reticulum stress and induction of the unfolded protein response in human sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis’, Neurobiology of Disease, 30:400-7.
4. Chung RS, Penkowa M, Dittmann J, King CE, Bartlett C, Asmussen JW, Hidalgo J, Carrasco J, Leung YK, Walker AK, Fung SJ, Dunlop SA, Fitzgerald M, Beazley LD, Chuah MI, Vickers JC, West AK, (2008) ‘Redefining the role of metallothionein within the injured brain: extracellular metallothioneins play an important role in the astrocyte-neuron response to injury’, Journal of Biological Chemistry, 283:15349-58.
5. Chung RS, Fung SJ, Leung YK, Walker AK, McCormack GH, Chuah MI, Vickers JC, West AK, (2007) ‘Metallothionein expression by NG2 glial cells following CNS injury’, Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 64:2716-22.
Students
