title: Insights from Caenorhabditis elegans on the role of metals in neurodegenerative diseases.
abstract: Neurodegeneration is characterized by the cell death or loss of structure and/or function of neurons. Many neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are the result of neurodegenerative processes. Metals are essential for many life processes, but they are also culpable for several neurodegenerative mechanisms. In this review, we discuss the role of metals in neurodegenerative diseases with emphasis on the utility of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) genetic models in deciphering mechanisms associated with the etiology of PD and AD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Pediatric Toxicology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 11425 MRB IV, 2215-B Garland Ave., Nashville, TN 37232-0414, USA.
authors.forename: Ebany J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Martinez-Finley
authors.forename: Daiana Silva
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Avila
authors.forename: Sudipta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aschner
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals