title: Mutant Cu,Zn superoxide dismutases and familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: evaluation of oxidative hypotheses.
abstract: FALS-associated missense mutations of SOD1 exhibit a toxic gain of function that leads to the death of motor neurons. The explanations for this toxicity fall into two broad categories. One involves a gain of some oxidative activity, while the second involves a gain of protein: protein interactions. Among the postulated oxidative activities are the following: (i) peroxidase action; (ii) superoxide reductase action; and, (iii) the enhancement of production of O2- by partial reversal of the normal SOD activity, which then leads to increased formation of ONOO(-). We will herein concentrate on evaluating the relative merits of these oxidative hypotheses and consider whether the experiments with transgenic animals that purport to disprove these oxidative explanations really do so.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Stefan I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Liochev
authors.forename: Irwin
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fridovich
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009154:Mutation; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase