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09:24
Expanding the Toolkit for In Vivo Imaging of Axonal Transport
Published on: December 23, 2021
Retrograde axonal transport and motor neuron disease
Anna-Lena Ström1, Jozsef Gal, Ping Shi
1Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Journal of Neurochemistry
|April 4, 2008
Summary
Defects in dynein-mediated retrograde axonal transport are implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Mutant SOD1 may disrupt transport of essential factors, impacting motor neuron survival in ALS.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Axonal transport is vital for neuronal function and survival.
- Deficits in axonal transport are linked to neurodegenerative diseases like ALS.
- Retrograde axonal transport plays a critical role in moving materials back to the neuronal cell body.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence linking dynein-mediated retrograde axonal transport defects to ALS.
- To explore the role of mutant SOD1 in perturbing axonal transport.
- To discuss the impact of impaired axonal transport on motor neuron viability in ALS.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent data on axonal transport and ALS.
- Analysis of molecular mechanisms involving mutant SOD1 and dynein.
- Discussion of the implications for neurotrophic factor and mitochondrial transport.
Main Results:
- Growing evidence implicates defects in dynein-mediated retrograde axonal transport in ALS.
- Mutant SOD1 may interfere with retrograde transport of neurotrophic factors and mitochondria.
- Axonal transport deficits may contribute to mutant SOD1 aggregation and degradation.
Conclusions:
- Impaired axonal transport is a key factor in ALS pathogenesis.
- Mutant SOD1's interaction with dynein disrupts essential neuronal transport processes.
- Interference with axonal transport and protein turnover by mutant SOD1 affects motor neuron function and survival in ALS.
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