Understanding the role of plasmalogen lipids in synaptic function, and their implications for neurodegenerative processes

The aim of this research is to quantify synapse assembly upon changing levels of plasmalogen lipids. Plasmalogens are synaptic lipids with a conical shape that may ease vesicle fusion. Although they have been found to decrease with progression of Alzheimer’s disease (Su et al., 2019), a direct evidence of their involvement in neurotransmission is yet to be proposed. In this study, we aim to test whether plasmalogen depletion in neurons affects synaptic vesiculation and hence neurotransmission. This work could shine a light on plasmalogen role in synapse function, provide evidence for novel mechanisms of neuronal loss in AD and pave the way for novel therapies.