Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
6921
pubmed:dateCreated
2003-1-23
pubmed:abstractText
The expansion of a CAG repeat coding for polyglutamine in otherwise unrelated gene products is central to eight neurodegenerative disorders including Huntington's disease. It has been well documented that expanded polyglutamine fragments, cleaved from their respective full-length proteins, form microscopically visible aggregates in affected individuals and in transgenic mice. The contribution of polyglutamine oligomers to neurodegeneration, however, is controversial. The azo-dye Congo red binds preferentially to beta-sheets containing amyloid fibrils and can specifically inhibit oligomerization and disrupt preformed oligomers. Here we show that inhibition of polyglutamine oligomerization by Congo red prevents ATP depletion and caspase activation, preserves normal cellular protein synthesis and degradation functions, and promotes the clearance of expanded polyglutamine repeats in vivo and in vitro. Infusion of Congo red into a transgenic mouse model of Huntington's disease, well after the onset of symptoms, promotes the clearance of expanded repeats in vivo and exerts marked protective effects on survival, weight loss and motor function. We conclude that oligomerization is a crucial determinant in the biochemical properties of expanded polyglutamine that are central to their chronic cytotoxicity.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0028-0836
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
23
pubmed:volume
421
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
373-9
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:12540902-Adenosine Triphosphate, pubmed-meshheading:12540902-Animals, pubmed-meshheading:12540902-Caspases, pubmed-meshheading:12540902-Cell Death, pubmed-meshheading:12540902-Congo Red, pubmed-meshheading:12540902-Disease Models, Animal, pubmed-meshheading:12540902-Enzyme Activation, pubmed-meshheading:12540902-HeLa Cells, pubmed-meshheading:12540902-Humans, pubmed-meshheading:12540902-Huntington Disease, pubmed-meshheading:12540902-Mice, pubmed-meshheading:12540902-Mice, Transgenic, pubmed-meshheading:12540902-Neurodegenerative Diseases, pubmed-meshheading:12540902-Peptides, pubmed-meshheading:12540902-Protein Binding, pubmed-meshheading:12540902-Protein Structure, Quaternary, pubmed-meshheading:12540902-Recombinant Fusion Proteins, pubmed-meshheading:12540902-Survival Rate, pubmed-meshheading:12540902-Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion, pubmed-meshheading:12540902-Weight Loss
pubmed:year
2003
pubmed:articleTitle
Pivotal role of oligomerization in expanded polyglutamine neurodegenerative disorders.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't