Daniel C Lee, PhD, and Chao Ma, University of South Florida

Dr. Lee's laboratory collectively studies various models of proteinopathies including tauopathies, synucleinopathies, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, as well as the role of inflammation during these diseases. They have identified interactions between arginine metabolism (free and protein modification) and polyamine biology during tauopathies. The group has studied how brain metabolism and impaired nutrient sensing, specifically arginine metabolism and arginine-sensing pathways impact proteinopathy disorders. A unique arginine conversion to citrulline (citrullination; citR) was uncovered within tau and thus Dr. Lee's laboratory team has created several new tools to understand how this post-translational modification impacts animal models and human tauopathies. The group employs cell culture models, genetically engineered mouse models, bioinformatics, adeno-associated viral gene therapy, small animal pharmacology, animal behavior, and drug discovery programs. This multidisciplinary approach positions the lab toward the discovery of novel mechanisms and therapeutics that treat neurodegenerative diseases associated with polyamine biology, arginine metabolism nutrient sensing, and citrullination during proteinopathies.