E.F.J. Slot (Erik) MSc

I am a fourth-year PhD student working on Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) peripheral neuropathy. This group of neuropathies can be caused by mutations in a variety of genes and the largest gene family associated with the disease is that of tRNA synthetases. These proteins are essential for protein synthesis, as they charge amino acids to their cognate tRNAs. In my work I use Drosophila melanogaster (the common fruit fly) to characterize the molecular pathomechanism underlying tRNA synthetase-associated CMT. A better understanding of the disease will lead to more adequate therapeutics.

• Development and lifelong plasticity
• Perception, Action and Decision-making

• Molecular Neurobiology