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Did anyone asked Dr. Lieberman to confirm the protein information? He is a leading authority on PD. Emily ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ray Strand" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 1:35 PM Subject: proteins again > > news from Reuters > > ........................................................................ ........................................................ > > > [Publication Logo] > > Synuclein-Protein Complexes Render Dopamine Neurotoxic > > > > NEW YORK (Reuters Health) May 31 - Alpha-synuclein forms soluble > complexes with the anti-apoptotic protein 14-3-3 that appear to cause > endogenous dopamine to become toxic to neurons in the substantia nigra, > according to a study in the June issue of Nature Medicine. > > This finding may explain the selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in > Parkinson's disease, the study authors suggest, and it may ultimately > lead to new therapies for the disease, as well as for diffuse Lewy-body > disease and some variants of Alzheimer's disease. > > Dr. Bruce A. Yankner, of the Children's Hospital in Boston, told Reuters > Health that "until now, the combination of alpha-synuclein with 14-3-3 > protein was not known to cause neuron degeneration." > > Dr. Yankner and associates found that transfection of alpha-synuclein in > primary cultures of nondopaminergic human cortical neurons (HCN cells) > and in human fetal dopaminergic neurons (DAN cells) led to similar > expression of the protein. Overexpression of alpha-synuclein increased > survival of the HCN cells, but led to increased apoptosis in the DAN cells. > > They then inhibited endogenous dopamine expression in DAN cells and > found that apoptosis induced by alpha-synuclein and potentiated by > oxidative stress was completely blocked. > > Autopsy studies showed that alpha-synuclein in the substantia nigra was > complexed with 14-3-3 protein. This inactivates the anti-apoptotic > effect of 14-3-3 protein, and dopamine metabolism subsequently promotes > apoptosis by acting as a source of reactive oxygen species, the authors > suggest. They believe that the complexes may also increase neuronal > vulnerability to other pro-oxidative agents, such as amyloid beta-protein. > > "It is too early to make any clear predictions regarding treatment," > said Dr. Yankner. "However, if the findings of this paper prove to be > important for Parkinson's disease, then preventing alpha-synuclein from > getting together with the 14-3-3 protein could be a new therapeutic > approach to the disease." > > Nat Med 2002;8:600-606. > > > > > > ........................................................................ .......................................................... > > Ray Strand > Prairie Sky Design > -----------------( on the Edge of the Prairie byss )--------------- > when the sky is clear > the ground is visible > 50/47dx PD/40? onset > http://folding.stanford.edu > join MSA TEAM CURE > #2508 > } > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn