How does a protein’s structure spell the difference between health and disease? Structure and misfolding of glaucoma-associated myocilin
A major research effort in the Lieberman lab includes molecular investigations of myocilin, a protein implicated in the prevalent ocular disorder glaucoma. I will present our efforts toward a detailed understanding of myocilin structure and how mutations lead to glaucoma pathogenesis. Our results include striking similarities with amyloid diseases, as well as offer new targets for glaucoma therapeutics.