Yeast models of neurodegenerative diseases.
The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been used to develop a wide range of highly tractable living models of the major human neurodegenerative diseases. Yet even though this microorganism lacks neuron-specific structures and processes, these models have provided new insights into the underlying disease mechanisms. Furthermore, they have allowed new therapeutic targets to be identified as well as providing a means of identifying potential therapeutic agents using high throughput cell-based screens. In this article, the benefits and limitations of S. cerevisiae-based neurodegenerative disease models are explored. Consideration is also given to future opportunities the exploitation of these models present, including the use of other yeast species such as Schizosaccharomyces pombe.
Tuite MF