Liebman Lab

• Studying the relationship between prion-like proteins and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and more.
• Using yeast models to understand human proteins that form prion-like aggregates including TDP-43 and p53.
• Long-term goal of developing life-saving treatments and prevention.

Research professor, Susan Liebman, Ph.D., has extensive knowledge of yeast prions and their similarities to human proteins that cause neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Huntington's disease. The Lab focuses on human prion-like proteins including TDP-43, associated with many neurodegenerative diseases, and p53, which is an important cancer suppressor gene. Using yeast models, their research has identified disease risk factors, which could lead to the development of life-saving treatments.

• Susan Liebman, Ph.D.: Principal Investigator
• Sangeun Park: Research Associate
• Sei-Kyoung Park: Research Assistant Professor
• Irina Derkatch: Research Associate Professor

• Proved the dependence of the [PSI+] prion on a chaperone, that overexpression of the SUP35 protein could induce [PSI+], and that there are different heritable forms of [PSI+].
• Identified new prions in yeast and established properties of different prion strains, and showed that the human p53 protein can propagate as a prion in yeast.
• Used yeast to discover new modifiers of TDP-43 toxicity, showing that TDP-43 forms liquid-like droplets and reduces proteolysis and autophagy.

1. Yeast as a Gateway to conquering protein misfolding diseases.
   • Award: R35GM136229
   • Funding organization: National Institute of Health (NIH) - Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA)