title: Serpin polymerization and its role in disease--the molecular basis of alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency.
abstract: Protein aggregation is the cause of several human diseases. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in protein aggregation requires knowledge of the kinetics and structures populated during the reaction. Arguably, the best structurally characterized misfolding reaction is that of alpha(1)-antitrypsin. Alpha(1)-antitrypsin misfolding leads to both liver disease and emphysema and affect approximately 1 in 2000 of the population. This review will focus on the mechanism of alpha(1)-antitrypsin misfolding and the development of potential therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Anja S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Knaupp
authors.forename: Stephen P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Bottomley
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011108:Polymers / Q000378:metabolism*; D017510:Protein Folding; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015843:Serpins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019896:alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D015843:Serpins