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Updated: Nov 17, 2025

An Alternative Approach to Study Primary Events in Neurodegeneration Using Ex Vivo Rat Brain Slices
Published on: April 11, 2018
Neuropeptides: Roles and Activities as Metal Chelators in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Shira Ben-Shushan1,2, Yifat Miller1,2
1Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Be'er Sheva 84105, Israel.
Abstract:
Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), are characterized by deposits of amyloid proteins. The homeostasis of metal ions is crucial for the normal biological functions in the brain. However, in AD and PD, the imbalance of metal ions leads to formation of amyloid deposits. In the past four decades, there has been extensive effort to design compound agents than can chelate metal ions with the aim of preventing the formation of the amyloid deposits. Unfortunately, the compounds to date that were designed were not successful candidates to be used in clinical trials. Neuropeptides are small molecules that are produced and released by neurons. It has been shown that neuropeptides have neuroprotective effects in the brain and reduce the formation of amyloid deposits. This Review Article is focused on the function of neuropeptides as metal chelators. Experimental and computational studies demonstrated that neuropeptides could bind metal ions, such as Cu2+ and Zn2+. This Review Article provides perspectives and initiates future studies to investigate the role of neuropeptides as metal chelators in neurodegenerative diseases.
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