title: Redox-sensitive GFP to monitor oxidative stress in neurodegenerative diseases.
abstract: Redox processes are key events in the degenerative cascade of many adult-onset neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), but the biological relevance of a single redox change is often dependent on the redox couple involved and on its subcellular origin. The biosensors based on engineered fluorescent proteins (redox-sensitive GFP [roGFP]) offer a unique opportunity to monitor redox changes in both physiological and pathological contexts in living animals and plants. Here, we review the use of roGFPs to monitor oxidative stress in different three adult-onset NDs: Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Despite the many differences spanning from incidence to onset, the hypotheses on biological processes underlying both sporadic and familiar ND forms in humans outline a model in which noncompeting mechanisms are likely to converge in various unsuccessful patterns to mediate the selective degeneration of a specific neuronal population. roGFPs, targeted to different cell compartments, are successfully used as specific markers of cell toxicity, induced by expression of causative genes linked to a determined ND. We also report the use of roGFP to monitor oxidative stress induced by the expression of the ALS-causative gene SOD1.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masala
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanna
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rassu
authors.forename: Viengsavanh
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pimxayvong
authors.forename: Ciro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iaccarino
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crosio
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*