Agonists of the microprotein BRAWNIN in the treatment of Charcot Marie Tooth disease

This project will provide proof of concept for the neuroprotective potential of agonists of the mitochondrial protein BRAWNIN. We have identified that BRAWNIN is an important regulator of mitochondrial function in neurons. Mitochondria are essential organelles to support metabolic homeostasis in the cell.

Mounting evidence in the literature demonstrate that mitochondria and more broadly metabolic regulation is central to the function of the nervous system. Axons are especially affected by metabolic deregulation, which can lead to axonal degeneration.

In this application, we propose that increasing the cellular levels of protein BRAWNIN using a gene-therapy strategy (defined as BRAWNIN agonists) will be protective in neurodegenerative disease, and we will demonstrate this in models of Charcot Marie Tooth disease, a peripheral neuropathy strongly associated with altered metabolism and mitochondria.

Overall, our project will provide the first demonstration that BRAWNIN is a target of therapeutic interest in axonal metabolic diseases, which we will further develop with the ultimate goal to develop BRAWNIN agonists for patients.