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Updated: Jul 23, 2025

Characterizing Histone Post-translational Modification Alterations in Yeast Neurodegenerative Proteinopathy Models
Published on: March 24, 2019
The Sherpa hypothesis: Phenotype-Preserving Disordered Proteins stabilize the phenotypes of neurons and
Vic Norris1, Judit Oláh2, Sergey N Krylov3
1Laboratory of Microbiology Signals and Microenvironment, University of Rouen, 76821, Mont Saint Aignan, France. victor.norris@univ-rouen.fr.
Abstract:
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), which can interact with many partner proteins, are central to many physiological functions and to various pathologies that include neurodegeneration. Here, we introduce the Sherpa hypothesis, according to which a subset of stable IDPs that we term Phenotype-Preserving Disordered Proteins (PPDP) play a central role in protecting cell phenotypes from perturbations. To illustrate and test this hypothesis, we computer-simulate some salient features of how cells evolve and differentiate in the presence of either a single PPDP or two incompatible PPDPs. We relate this virtual experiment to the pathological interactions between two PPDPs, α-synuclein and Tubulin Polymerization Promoting Protein/p25, in neurodegenerative disorders. Finally, we discuss the implications of the Sherpa hypothesis for aptamer-based therapies of such disorders.
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