Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
07:14
Optogenetic Phase Transition of TDP-43 in Spinal Motor Neurons of Zebrafish Larvae
Published on: February 25, 2022
PP2A: Decoding Its Structure, Regulation and Therapeutic Applications in Neurological Disorders
Jingyi Tian1, Rui Yao1, Lu Shen1,2,3,4
1Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, PR China.
Current Neuropharmacology
|July 29, 2026
Summary
Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is crucial for cellular balance. This review synthesizes PP2A
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cellular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a serine/threonine phosphatase vital for cellular homeostasis.
- PP2A's diverse functions stem from over 80 holoenzyme variants, regulating processes like cell cycle and apoptosis.
- PP2A dysregulation is linked to neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, and metabolic syndromes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize current knowledge on PP2A's structural complexity and regulatory mechanisms.
- To elucidate PP2A's roles in neural physiology and pathology, particularly in neurological disorders.
- To examine therapeutic strategies targeting PP2A for neurological disease intervention.
Main Methods:
- Review of high-resolution structural studies on PP2A holoenzyme assembly and substrate recruitment.
- Analysis of evidence on dynamic PP2A activity regulation via subunit expression and post-translational modifications.
- Synthesis of findings on PP2A's involvement in neurological disease pathogenesis.
Main Results:
- PP2A's structural versatility enables its broad regulatory roles.
- Impaired PP2A activity in neurological disorders contributes to protein hyperphosphorylation and neuroinflammation.
- PP2A activity is dynamically regulated by subunit composition and post-translational modifications.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive understanding of PP2A's structure-function relationship is crucial for neurological disease research.
- Targeting PP2A offers potential therapeutic avenues for conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
- Further research is needed to fully decipher PP2A's complex regulatory network and therapeutic potential.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Parkinson's Disease: Overview
Neurodegenerative disorders are progressive diseases that cause irreversible damage and loss to neurons in specific brain areas. Examples of these disorders include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). These disorders share characteristics such as proteinopathies, selective neuronal vulnerability, and a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The primary therapeutic goal for these conditions is to...
01:37Neural Regulation
Digestion begins with a cephalic phase that prepares the digestive system to receive food. When our brain processes visual or olfactory information about food, it triggers impulses in the cranial nerves innervating the salivary glands and stomach to prepare for food.
01:32Postsynaptic Potential (PSP)
Postsynaptic potential (PSP) refers to a change in the electrical potential of a neuron when neurotransmitters released by presynaptic neurons bind to postsynaptic receptors. This potential can either be excitatory, leading to depolarization and ultimately action potential generation, or inhibitory, leading to hyperpolarization and suppression of the postsynaptic neuron.
There are two types of receptors: ionotropic and metabotropic.
The ionotropic receptor is the membrane protein that has an...
There are two types of receptors: ionotropic and metabotropic.
The ionotropic receptor is the membrane protein that has an...
01:24Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting movement, with additional non-motor features. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and cellular dysfunction, including dopaminergic neuron loss, protein aggregation, and mitochondrial impairment.Selective NeurodegenerationA key feature is the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to reduced...
01:30Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that play a vital role in intercellular communication and functions of the nervous system. They allow the influx of ions across the membrane once the neurotransmitter binds, allowing the subsequent transmission of electrical excitation across the neurons. Other ligand-gated ion channels, like the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, permit anions like chloride into the cells on the binding of the GABA molecule. Their entry into the cell...
01:24Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's Disease (PD), involve the gradual and irreversible destruction of neurons in particular brain areas. These disorders exhibit standard features like proteinopathies, selective vulnerability of some neurons, and an interaction of intrinsic properties, genetics, and environmental influences in neural injury.
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of its...
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of its...