title: Induction of nitric oxide-dependent apoptosis in motor neurons by zinc-deficient superoxide dismutase.
abstract: Mutations in copper, zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD) have been implicated in the selective death of motor neurons in 2 percent of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. The loss of zinc from either wild-type or ALS-mutant SODs was sufficient to induce apoptosis in cultured motor neurons. Toxicity required that copper be bound to SOD and depended on endogenous production of nitric oxide. When replete with zinc, neither ALS-mutant nor wild-type copper, zinc SODs were toxic, and both protected motor neurons from trophic factor withdrawal. Thus, zinc-deficient SOD may participate in both sporadic and familial ALS by an oxidative mechanism involving nitric oxide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Estévez
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Crow
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Sampson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reiter
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Tarpey
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barbeito
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Beckman
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism; D005452:Fluoresceins / Q000378:metabolism; D008081:Liposomes; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D051381:Rats; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D002614:Chelating Agents; D005452:Fluoresceins; D008081:Liposomes; D009566:Nitrates; C065013:2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein; D013481:Superoxides; C039642:peroxynitric acid; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D003300:Copper; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; C496322:Nos1 protein, rat; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D015032:Zinc