The Nervous System Cytoskeleton under Oxidative Stress

Diseases

John Gardiner¹  Robyn Overall² 

[1] School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney, Science Road, Macleay Building A12, Camperdown 2006, Australia;

关键词: microtubule;    actin;    neurofilament;    posttranslational modification;   

DOI  :  10.3390/diseases1010036

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Oxidative stress is a key mechanism causing protein aggregation, cell death and neurodegeneration in the nervous system. The neuronal cytoskeleton, that is, microtubules, actin filaments and neurofilaments, plays a key role in defending the nervous system against oxidative stress-induced damage and is also a target for this damage itself. Microtubules appear particularly susceptible to damage, with oxidative stress downregulating key microtubule-associated proteins [MAPs] and affecting tubulin through aberrant post-translational modifications. Actin filaments utilise oxidative stress for their reorganisation and thus may be less susceptible to deleterious effects. However, because cytoskeletal components are interconnected through crosslinking proteins, damage to one component affects the entire cytoskeletal network. Neurofilaments are phosphorylated under oxidative stress, leading to the formation of protein aggregates reminiscent of those seen in neurodegenerative diseases. Drugs that target the cytoskeleton may thus be of great use in treating various neurodegenerative diseases caused by oxidative stress.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.