title: Wld(S), Nmnats and axon degeneration--progress in the past two decades.
abstract: A chimeric protein called Wallerian degeneration slow (Wld(S)) was first discovered in a spontaneous mutant strain of mice that exhibited delayed Wallerian degeneration. This provides a useful tool in elucidating the mechanisms of axon degeneration. Over-expression of Wld(S) attenuates the axon degeneration that is associated with several neurodegenerative disease models, suggesting a new logic for developing a potential protective strategy. At molecular level, although Wld(S) is a fusion protein, the nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyl transferase 1 (Nmnat1) is required and sufficient for the protective effects of Wld(S), indicating a critical role of NAD biosynthesis and perhaps energy metabolism in axon degeneration. These findings challenge the proposed model in which axon degeneration is operated by an active programmed process and thus may have important implication in understanding the mechanisms of neurodegeneration. In this review, we will summarize these recent findings and discuss their relevance to the mechanisms of axon degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Tingting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Qiwei
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D008959:Models, Neurological; D050505:Mutant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009154:Mutation; D009243:NAD / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009612:Nicotinamide-Nucleotide Adenylyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D050505:Mutant Proteins; D009243:NAD; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009612:Nicotinamide-Nucleotide Adenylyltransferase; C442580:Wld protein, mouse; C510972:Nmnat1 protein, mouse