DESIGN, SYNTHESIS AND STUDY OF BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF PEPTIDES WITH NEUROPROTECTIVE PROPERTIES

The main purpose of this project is to search for novel compounds that will protect neurons against oxidative stress (6-hydroxydopamine, 6-OHDA) and glucocorticoids (corticosterone, CORT) in a human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y) and elucidate the mechanism by which attenuated the physiological changes induced by these neurotoxins. We will explore whether this protective role of tested compounds will be involved also in the regulation of apoptosis, maintaining oxidoreductive balance, and stabilization of mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, the involvement of the BDNF/TrkB-ERK-CREB/mTOR signalling pathway in neuronal survival will be examined.