Biological inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry of neurodegeneration based on prion and Alzheimer diseases

摘要

A change of the prion protein conformation results in a class of neurodegenerative diseases called the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (like mad cow and Creutzfeld-Jakob diseases).The function of the normal prion protein is unknown,although much of recent research demonstrates the it may be a copper binding protein selective for Cu(II).Amyloid precursor protein (APP) releases the 39-42 amino acid peptide,a major constituent of the deposit in plaques of Alzheimer disease brain.Also APP is a metal binding protein,including copper ions.The link between copper and both proteins may provide insight into the role of metals in neurodegenerative pathologies.