Date: Friday, 11 March 2022

Time: 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Via Zoom: https://hku.zoom.us/j/99220156217?pwd=cEI5OUtYc1I5YmpYYTQveEJDRjV2UT09

Meeting ID: 992 2015 6217

Password: 836869

5:00 p.m.

Presenter: Mr. Ka Chun TSUI, MPhil candidate
Primary Supervisor: Dr. Man Lung FUNG
Presentation Title: Melatonin treatment enhanced neuroprotection and anti-inflammatory mechanisms in the hippocampus of 5xFAD mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease
Abstract: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder involving abnormal protein deposition. Despite much research, there are still limited disease-modifying treatments. Melatonin has been found to have therapeutic effects on amyloidosis, and neuroinflammation in AD. Our study shows that melatonin has therapeutic potential for attenuating the neuropathology in AD through reduction of Aβ plaque burden and neuroinflammation with enhanced neurogenesis, neurotransmission, and glucose metabolism related metabolites. Melatonin was able to direct APP processing through cAMP, and Rap1 signaling pathways. Melatonin also interacted with phospholipase D signaling pathway to regulate the trafficking and processing of APP. On the other hand, melatonin was found to be associated with apelin signaling pathway, modulate type I interferon production and B cells differentiation to regulate neuroinflammation. The improved neurogenesis was accompanied by the interaction between melatonin and cAMP, cGMP-PKG signaling pathway and melatonin-mediated stabilization of actin cytoskeleton.

5:30 p.m.

Presenter: Miss Chit Ying LAU, PhD candidate
Primary Supervisor: Prof. Ren SUN
Presentation Title: The role of ACSS2 in early transcriptional regulation during intracellular stimulation
Abstract: Acetyl-CoA producing enzymes in the nucleus are responsible for providing substrates for histone acetylation. Among these enzymes, only acyl-CoA synthetase short-chain family member 2 (ACSS2) is reported to have chromatin binding ability, yet little is known about its recruitment and contribution to specific histone acetylation. In this study, binding characteristics and functions of ACSS2 in intracellular signalling are explored. We reveal early recruitment of ACSS2 to specific chromatin sites during glucocorticoid receptor activation. Changes in H3K27ac moderately correlate with the dynamics of ACSS2 binding. Moreover, induction of glucocorticoid-sensitive genes is reduced when ACSS2 is depleted. Together, our work may suggest a general model for ACSS2-mediated early transcriptional regulation in diverse biological processes.

ALL ARE WELCOME

Should you have any enquiries, please feel free to contact Miss Cynthia Cheung at 3917 9748.