Topic: Huntingtin protein

Huntington Disease (HD) originates from the expansion of a polyglutamine (PolyQ) tract in the Huntingtin protein (Htt), that can assume a Coiled coil fold (Cc). We previously found that Cc structures mediate the aggregation and toxicity of Htt and hypothesize they might be implicated in other aspects of Htt dysfunction. There is evidence that expanded and aggregated Htt can be released by sick cells and taken up by healthy ones. With a prion-like mechanism, aggregated Htt can then seed the misfolding of normal Htt spreading the disorder.We hypothesize that Cc also mediate the intercellular pro