Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0002736 (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
 19,048 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Accumulation of misfolded Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) occurs in patients with a subgroup of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS). To identify the conversion of SOD1 from a normally soluble form to insoluble aggregates, we investigated the change of SOD1 solubility with aging in fALS-linked H46R SOD1 transgenic mice. Mutant SOD1 specifically altered to insoluble forms, which were sequentially separated into Triton X-100-insoluble/sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-soluble and SDS-insoluble/formic acid-soluble species. In spinal cords, the levels of SDS-dissociable soluble SOD1 monomers and SDS-stable soluble dimers were significantly elevated before motor dysfunction onset. In COS-7 cells expressing H46R SOD1, treatment with proteasome inhibitors recapitulated the alteration of SOD1 solubility in transgenic mice. In contrast, overexpression of Hsp70 reduced accumulation of mutant-specific insoluble SOD1. SDS-soluble low molecular weight species of H46R SOD1 may appear as early misfolded intermediates when their concentration exceeds the capacity of the proteasome and molecular chaperones.
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PMID:Alteration of familial ALS-linked mutant SOD1 solubility with disease progression: its modulation by the proteasome and Hsp70. 1656 56

The role of Pt and the influence of the reaction conditions during lean-rich cycling experiments were studied on a second generation SOx trapping material. The combination of the Generalized 2-D Correlation Analysis, 2-D Sample-Sample Correlation Analysis, and Factor Analysis using the MCR-ALS technique was applied to identify the reactive species. Transient surface sulfate species were formed under oxidative reaction conditions (lean mode) and decomposed under reducing reaction conditions (rich operation mode). The reduction of this species was identified to be the main contribution to the SO2 release observed under dynamic flow conditions. Pt facilitates the formation of sulfates but also catalyzes the reduction of the transient surface sulfate species leading to a higher amount of SO2 released under rich conditions. In the presence of water, this effect was diminished, which was found to be mainly a result of the suppressed formation of surface sulfate species caused by the faster transport of SO2 into the bulk phase of the SOx trapping component (BaCO3). Increasing the time under reducing conditions in the cycles leads to an enhanced reduction of the surface during rich conditions. The presence of water did not influence the bulk type species. It is proposed that for effective SO2 storage materials, strong SOx adsorption sites on the surface, the presence of water, and a short time under reducing conditions are essential.
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PMID:SOx storage materials under Lean-Rich cycling conditions--Part II: influence of Pt, H2O, and cycling time. 1718 Dec 53

Peripherin is a type III neuronal intermediate filament protein detected within the intraneuronal inclusions characteristic of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The constitutively expressed peripherin isoform is encoded by all nine exons of the human and mouse peripherin genes to generate a protein species of approximately 58 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Expression of this isoform, termed Per-58, generates a filament network in transfected SW13 vim cells. On immunoblots of cell lysates derived from these transfected cells, we have consistently observed a second peripherin species of approximately 45 kDa. In this study, we show that this species is a novel peripherin isoform generated through the use of an in-frame downstream initiation codon. This isoform, that we have designated Per-45, is co-expressed together with Per-58 and, thus, constitutive in both human and mouse. Using mutational analysis, we show that Per-45 is required for normal network formation, with the absence of Per-45 leading to irregular filamentous structures. We further show that peripherin expression in the normal nervous system is characterized by tissue-specific Per-58 : Per-45 isoform ratios. Taken together, these results identify novel processing requirements for peripherin expression and indicate a hitherto unrecognized role for neuronal intermediate filament network formation through intra-isoform associations.
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PMID:A novel peripherin isoform generated by alternative translation is required for normal filament network formation. 1820 47

The neuregulins are a family of polypeptide factors implicated in a wide range of neurological and psychiatric disorders including multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease. Many alternatively-spliced forms of the NRG1 gene are released as soluble factors that can diffuse to near and distant sites within the nervous system where they can accumulate through binding to highly specific heparan-sulfate proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix. Here we have determined the sites of synthesis and accumulation of heparin-binding neuregulin forms in human neocortex, white matter, cerebral spinal fluid, and serum by immunostaining and measurement of neuregulin activity. While neuregulin precursors are expressed predominately within cortical neurons, soluble neuregulin accumulates preferentially on the surface of white matter astrocytes. Consistently, neuregulin activity can be released from the extracellular matrix of human brain by protease treatment. Neuregulin activity is also detectable in human cerebral spinal fluid where its expression appears to be altered in neuronal disorders. While cerebral spinal fluid neuregulin levels were unaltered in patients with multiple sclerosis, they were slightly reduced in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson's disease (p<0.15), but significantly increased in Alzheimer's disease (p<0.01). While not detected in human serum, a novel neuregulin antagonist activity was identified in human serum that could have prevented its detection. These results suggest that human neuregulin is selectively targeted from cortical neurons to white matter extracellular matrix where it exists in steady-state equilibrium with cerebral spinal fluid where it has the potential to serve as a biological marker in human neuronal disorders.
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PMID:Differential distribution of neuregulin in human brain and spinal fluid. 1915 Apr 38

The assembly of amyloidogenic proteins into toxic oligomers is a seminal event in the pathogenesis of protein misfolding diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases, hereditary amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and type 2 diabetes. Owing to the metastable nature of these protein assemblies, it is difficult to assess their oligomer size distribution quantitatively using classical methods, such as electrophoresis, chromatography, fluorescence, or dynamic light scattering. Oligomers of amyloidogenic proteins exist as metastable mixtures, in which the oligomers dissociate into monomers and associate into larger assemblies simultaneously. PICUP stabilizes oligomer populations by covalent cross-linking and when combined with fractionation methods, such as sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) or size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), PICUP provides snapshots of the oligomer size distributions that existed before cross-linking. Hence, PICUP enables visualization and quantitative analysis of metastable protein populations and can be used to monitor assembly and decipher relationships between sequence modifications and oligomerization(1). Mechanistically, PICUP involves photo-oxidation of Ru(2+) in a tris(bipyridyl)Ru(II) complex (RuBpy) to Ru(3+) by irradiation with visible light in the presence of an electron acceptor. Ru(3+) is a strong one-electron oxidizer capable of abstracting an electron from a neighboring protein molecule, generating a protein radical(1,2). Radicals are unstable, highly-reactive species and therefore disappear rapidly through a variety of intra- and intermolecular reactions. A radical may utilize the high energy of an unpaired electron to react with another protein monomer forming a dimeric radical, which subsequently loses a hydrogen atom and forms a stable, covalently-linked dimer. The dimer may then react further through a similar mechanism with monomers or other dimers to form higher-order oligomers. Advantages of PICUP relative to other photo- or chemical cross-linking methods(3,4) include short (<or=1 s) exposure to non-destructive visible light, no need for pre facto modification of the native sequence, and zero-length covalent cross-linking. In addition, PICUP enables cross-linking of proteins within wide pH and temperature ranges, including physiologic parameters. Here, we demonstrate application of PICUP to cross-linking of three amyloidogenic proteins the 40- and 42-residue amyloid beta-protein variants (Abeta40 and Abeta42), and calcitonin, and a control protein, growth-hormone releasing factor (GRF).
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PMID:Photo-induced cross-linking of unmodified proteins (PICUP) applied to amyloidogenic peptides. 1922 75

Modern protein identification and analysis relies largely on proteolytic in-gel digestion of proteins separated during polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) followed by mass spectrometric (MS) measurement of the extracted peptides. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is routinely used in nonnative PAGE. However, SDS can interfere with MS. We report the use of an acid-labile surfactant (ALS-I) in place of SDS. ALSI is a long chain derivative of 1,3-dioxolane sodium propyloxy sulfate and has similar denaturing and electrophoretic properties as SDS, but it decomposes at low pH and enhances MS detection of proteins.
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PMID:Use of an acid-labile surfactant as an SDS substitute for gel electrophoresis and proteomic analysis. 1949 58

The oxidation of the recently synthesized Schiff base 3,6-bis((2-aminoethyl-5-Br-salicyliden)thio)pyridazine (PABST) with hydrogen peroxide was investigated using spectrophotometric studies. The reaction rate order and observed rate constant of the oxidation reaction was obtained in the mixture of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF):water (30:70, v/v) at pH 10 using multivariate cure resolution alternative least squares (MCR-ALS) method and rank annihilation factor analysis (RAFA). The effective parameters on the oxidation rate constant such as percents of DMF, the effect of transition metals like Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Mn(2+) and Hg(2+) and the presence of surfactants were investigated. The keto-enol equilibria in DMF:water (30:70, v/v) solution at pH 7.6 was also investigated in the presence of surfactants. At concentrations above critical micelle concentration (cmc) of cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), the keto form was the predominant species, while at concentrations above cmc of anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), the enol form was the predominant species. The kinetic reaction order and the rate constant of tautomerization in micellar medium were obtained using MCR-ALS and RAFA. The results obtained by both the methods were in a good agreement with each other. Also the effect of different volume percents of DMF on the rate constant of tautomerization was investigated. The neutral surfactant (Triton X-100) had no effect on tautomerization equilibrium.
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PMID:Investigation of oxidation and tautomerization of a recently synthesized Schiff base in micellar media using multivariate curve resolution alternative least squares and rank annihilation factor analysis methods. 1959 4

Involuntary emotional expression disorder (IEED) is syndrome characterized with relatively stereotypical episodes of uncontrollable crying and/or laughing. Additionally, this syndrome can include irritability, anger and frustration. This syndrome is common among a number of neurologic diseases like patients with a stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI), patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), as well as dementias such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), and motor disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD). IEED is very common but misdiagnosed and consequently undertreated. Prevalence of IEED in AD is between 15-39%. Recent controlled clinical studies suggest that dextromethorphan (DM) and quinidine (Q) is an effective treatment for IEED. United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for filing and review its New Drug Application (NDA) for Zenvia (dextromethorphan hydrobromide and quinidine sulfate capsules) for the treatment of IEED. In Republic of Croatia current treatment involves antidepressants (tricyclic and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), antipsychotic agents, anxiolytics, antidementives and mood stabilizers. New promising treatment can reduce the frequency of episodes and improve the quality of life of patients and their families and caregivers.
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PMID:Involuntary emotional expression disorder in Alzheimer's disease - psychopharmacotherapy aspects. 1979 69

It is now established that pathological transactive response DNA-binding protein with a Mr of 43 kD (TDP-43) on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is the major disease protein in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) with ubiquitin-positive inclusions (now known as FTLD-TDP). In fact, the discovery of pathological TDP-43 solidified the idea that these disorders are multi-system diseases and this led to the concept of a TDP-43 proteinopathy as a spectrum of disorders comprised of different clinical and pathological entities extending from ALS to ALS with cognitive impairment/dementia and FTLD-TDP without or with motor neuron disease (FTLD-MND). These align along a broad disease continuum sharing similar pathogenetic mechanisms linked to pathological TDP-43. We here review salient findings in the development of a concept of TDP-43 proteinopathy as a novel group of neurodegenerative diseases similar in concept to alpha-synucleinopathies and tauopathies.
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PMID:Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration: a spectrum of TDP-43 proteinopathies. 2010 19

AVANIR Pharmaceuticals Inc, under license from Irisys Research & Development, is developing AVP-923 (Zenvia, Neurodex) for the treatment of pseudobulbar affect (PBA; in collaboration with Medison Pharma Ltd) and neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. PBA, the main indication of AVP-923, is a neurological disorder characterized by uncontrollable and unpredictable episodes of laughing and/or crying. AVP-923 consists of a combination of the NMDA antagonist/sigma1 receptor agonist dextromethorphan hydrobromide (DM) and the cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) enzyme inhibitor quinidine sulfate (Q). DM has been under investigation for several years as a neuroprotective agent in stroke, neurosurgery and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); however, it is rapidly metabolized by CYP2D6, reducing the drug's bioavailability at neuronal targets. The inclusion of Q inhibits the rapid first-pass metabolism of DM to increase systemic concentrations of the drug in the plasma and, in theory, increase the potential efficacy. The initial clinical data for AVP-923 in the treatment of PBA demonstrated the combination was effective, but exhibited significant side effects. Of particular concern to the FDA were increased QTc intervals reported in patients dosed with a 30-/30-mg dose of DM/Q. A subsequent phase III clinical trial assessing a lower dose of AVP-923 (20 or 30 mg DM/10 mg Q) for the treatment of PBA in patients with ALS or multiple sclerosis was implemented by AVANIR and demonstrated a favorable safety profile of AVP-923 while maintaining efficacy. Pending approval of the data from the FDA, AVP-923 would be the first FDA-approved treatment for PBA.
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PMID:AVP-923, a combination of dextromethorphan hydrobromide and quinidine sulfate for the treatment of pseudobulbar affect and neuropathic pain. 2037 55


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