Metallothioneins and copper metabolism are candidate therapeutic targets in Huntington's disease

Metallothioneins and copper metabolism are candidate therapeutic targets in Huntington's disease.

HD (Huntington's disease) is caused by a polyQ (polyglutamine) expansion in the huntingtin protein, which leads to protein misfolding and aggregation of this protein. Abnormal copper accumulation in the HD brain was first reported more than 15 years ago. Recent findings show that copper-regulatory genes are induced during HD and copper binds to an N-terminal fragment of huntingtin, supporting t...

The Functions of Metamorphic Metallothioneins in Zinc and Copper Metabolism

Recent discoveries in zinc biology provide a new platform for discussing the primary physiological functions of mammalian metallothioneins (MTs) and their exquisite zinc-dependent regulation. It is now understood that the control of cellular zinc homeostasis includes buffering of Zn2+ ions at picomolar concentrations, extensive subcellular re-distribution of Zn2+, the loading of exocytotic vesi...

Many cytokines are very useful therapeutic targets in disease.

Cytokines are a large family of more than 100 small proteins that function as short-range mediators involved in essentially all biological processes. They have been found to be important rate-limiting signals, and it is now known that blocking some cytokines, e.g., TNF-alpha, and cytokine receptors, such as human EGFR 1 (HER1) or HER2, yields effective therapeutics that address unmet needs. Thi...

[copper Metabolism and Wilson's Disease].

Applying Bioinfomatics Strategies in Huntingtons Disease Research