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Gillian Ritson

Gillian

Projects
I am studying the function of valosin-containing protein (VCP) and its role in human disease. Mutations in VCP are causitive in the disease Inclusion Body Myostitis with Paget’s disease of bone and Frontotemporal Dementia (IBMPFD). We hypothesize that VCP may also play a role in a broad range of age-related neurodegenerative diseases. 

In a related project, I have developed an assay to monitor protein half-life in vivo in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. I am currently using our model of SBMA to measure the half-life of the androgen receptor and the effects of polyglutamine expansions, autophagy and proteasome dysfunction on its turnover. We hope that this approach will elucidate the cellular clearance mechanisms that respond to protein aggregates and that these insights may be exploited for treatment purposes.

Personal Background
I was born in Philadelphia but grew up on the island of Guernsey and in Plymouth England. The pull back here was great, however, and so I returned after graduation from Oxford University. I am now a third year graduate student in Neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania. I live here now with my husband Jon and when not working hard in lab, I enjoy going out to dinner and the movies.

Publications

  • Guinto JB, Ritson GP, Taylor JP, Forman MS. Valosin-containing protein and the pathogenesis of frontotemporal dementia associated with inclusion body myopathy. Acta Neuropathol. 2007 Jul;114(1):55-61.
  • Pandey UB, Nie Z, Batlevi Y, McCray BA, Ritson GP, Nedelsky NB, Schwartz SL, DiProspero NA, Knight MA, Schuldiner O, Padmanabhan R, Hild M, Berry DL, Garza D, Hubbert CC, Yao TP, Baehrecke EH, Taylor JP. HDAC6 rescues neurodegeneration and provides an essential link between autophagy and the UPS. Nature. 2007 Jun 14;447(7146):859-63.
  • Ramsey CP, Glass CA, Montgomery MB, Lindl KA, Ritson GP, Chia LA, Hamilton RL, Chu CT, Jordan-Sciutto KL. J Expression of Nrf2 in neurodegenerative diseases. Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2007 Jan;66(1):75-85
  • French SJ, Ritson GP, Hidaka S, Totterdell S. Nucleus accumbens nitric oxide immunoreactive interneurons receive nitric oxide and ventral subicular afferents in rats. Neuroscience. 2005;135(1):121-31 row

Honors

  • June 2005 – Present: Training in Age-related Neurodegenerative Diseases training grant (AG00255)

Education

E-mail Gill