title: Molecular chaperones and neuronal proteostasis.
abstract: Protein homeostasis (proteostasis) is essential for maintaining the functionality of the proteome. The disruption of proteostasis, due to genetic mutations or an age-related decline, leads to aberrantly folded proteins that typically lose their function. The accumulation of misfolded and aggregated protein is also cytotoxic and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Neurons have developed an intrinsic protein quality control network, of which molecular chaperones are an essential component. Molecular chaperones function to promote efficient folding and target misfolded proteins for refolding or degradation. Increasing molecular chaperone expression can suppress protein aggregation and toxicity in numerous models of neurodegenerative disease; therefore, molecular chaperones are considered exciting therapeutic targets. Furthermore, mutations in several chaperones cause inherited neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we focus on the importance of molecular chaperones in neurodegenerative diseases, and discuss the advances in understanding their protective mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK.
authors.forename: Heather L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK.
authors.forename: Wenwen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK. Electronic address: michael.cheetham@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Cheetham
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000378:metabolism*; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D066263:Protein Aggregation, Pathological; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D011506:Proteins
keywords: Heat shock response; Molecular chaperone; Neurodegeneration; Neuroprotection; Protein aggregation; Unfolded protein response