Neurodegeneration: A non-apoptotic role for AIF in the brain.
A recent report provides new insights into the mechanisms of neurodegeneration. In a mouse mutant with progressive cerebellar and retinal degeneration, the expression of the apoptotic protein AIF was found to be downregulated leading paradoxically to apoptosis of neurons that is associated with an imbalance in free radical metabolism and cell cycle re-entry.
Bonni
Azad
A
Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Avenue, 02115, Boston, MA, USA. azad_bonni@hms.harvard.edu
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D051033:Apoptosis Inducing Factor; D001259:Ataxia / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D005420:Flavoproteins / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism
D051033:Apoptosis Inducing Factor; D005420:Flavoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C494830:AIFM1 protein, mouse; D010088:Oxidoreductases