title: Neurofilament homeostasis and motoneurone degeneration.
abstract: Neurofilament disorganisation is a hallmark of various neurodegenerative diseases. We review here current knowledge of neurofilament structure, gene expression and function. Neurofilament involvement in motoneurone neurological diseases is discussed in view of recent data from transgenic and spontaneous mouse mutants. In the mammalian neurone, the three neurofilament subunits are assembled into intermediate filaments as obligate heteropolymers. The subunits are expressed differentially during development and adult life according to the cell type and its physiological state. In addition to the well-established role of neurofilaments in the control of axonal calibre, there is increasing evidence that neurofilaments can interact with other cytoskeletal components and can modulate the axoplasmic flow. Although the extent to which neurofilament abnormalities contribute to the pathogenesis in human diseases remains unknown, emerging evidence suggests that disorganised neurofilaments can provoke degeneration and death of neurones. BioEssays 23:24-33, 2001.
authors.affiliation: International Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, CNR, via Marconi 12, 80125 Naples, Italy. perrone@iigb.na.cnr.it
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perrone Capano
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pernas-Alonso
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: di Porzio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis
chemical_list: D016900:Neurofilament Proteins