Purines and Pyrimidines: Metabolism, Function and Potential as therapeutic options in neurodegenerative diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debanjan Kundu ◽  
Vikash Kumar Dubey
Keyword(s):  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽  
Protein Misfolding ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Treatment Regimens ◽  
Loss Of Balance ◽  
Current Scenario ◽  
Unexplored Area ◽  
Molecular Origin ◽  
Purines And Pyrimidines

Abstract:: Various neurodegenerative disorders have molecular origin but some common molecular mechanisms. In the current scenario, there are very few treatment regimens present for advanced neurodegenerative diseases. In this context, there is an urgent need for alternate options in the form of natural compounds with an ameliorating effect on patients. There have been individual scattered experiments trying to identify potential values of various intracellular metabolites. Purines and Pyrimidines, which are vital molecules governing various aspects of cellular biochemical reactions, have been long sought as crucial candidates for the same, but there are still many questions that go unanswered. Some critical functions of these molecules associated with neuromodulation activities have been identified. They are also known to play a role in foetal neurodevelopment, but there is a lacuna in understanding their mechanisms. In this review, we have tried to assemble and identify the importance of purines and pyrimidines, connecting them with the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases. The leading cause of this class of diseases is protein misfolding and the formation of amyloids. A direct correlation between loss of balance in cellular homeostasis and amyloidosis is yet an unexplored area. This review aims at bringing the current literature available under one umbrella serving as a foundation for further extensive research in this field of drug development in neurodegenerative diseases.

scholarly journals Molecular mechanisms of proteinopathies across neurodegenerative disease: a review

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander P. Marsh
Keyword(s):  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disease ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽  
Protein Misfolding ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Main Body ◽  
Molecular Events ◽  
Underlying Pathology

Abstract Background Although there is a range of different symptoms across neurodegenerative diseases, they have been noted to have common pathogenic features. An archetypal feature shared between these diseases is protein misfolding; however, the mechanism behind the proteins abnormalities is still under investigation. There is an emerging hypothesis in the literature that the mechanisms that lead to protein misfolding may be shared across neurodegenerative processes, suggesting a common underlying pathology. Main body This review discusses the literature to date of the shared features of protein misfolding, failures in proteostasis, and potential propagation pathways across the main neurodegenerative disorders. Conclusion The current data suggests, despite overarching processes being shared, that the molecular events implicated in protein pathology are distinct across common neurodegenerative disorders.

scholarly journals Catechins as Tools to Understand the Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (16) ◽  
pp. 3571
Author(s):  
Karla Martinez Pomier ◽  
Rashik Ahmed ◽  
Giuseppe Melacini
Keyword(s):  
Phenolic Compounds ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Protein Misfolding ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Amyloid Aggregation ◽  
Amyloid Aggregates ◽  
Parkinson’S Diseases ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Properties ◽  
Self Association

Protein misfolding as well as the subsequent self-association and deposition of amyloid aggregates is implicated in the progression of several neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Modulators of amyloidogenic aggregation serve as essential tools to dissect the underlying molecular mechanisms and may offer insight on potential therapeutic solutions. These modulators include green tea catechins, which are potent inhibitors of amyloid aggregation. Although catechins often exhibit poor pharmacokinetic properties and bioavailability, they are still essential tools for identifying the drivers of amyloid aggregation and for developing other aggregation modulators through structural mimicry. As an illustration of such strategies, here we review how catechins have been used to map the toxic surfaces of oligomeric amyloid-like species and develop catechin-based phenolic compounds with enhanced anti-amyloid activity.

scholarly journals Disulfide Bonding in Neurodegenerative Misfolding Diseases

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Francesca Mossuto
Keyword(s):  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽  
Disulfide Bonds ◽  
Protein Misfolding ◽  
Bond Formation ◽  
Specific Protein ◽  
Disulfide Bonding ◽  
Misfolding Diseases ◽  
Protein Misfolding And Aggregation

In recent years an increasing number of neurodegenerative diseases has been linked to the misfolding of a specific protein and its subsequent accumulation into aggregated species, often toxic to the cell. Of all the factors that affect the behavior of these proteins, disulfide bonds are likely to be important, being very conserved in protein sequences and being the enzymes devoted to their formation among the most conserved machineries in mammals. Their crucial role in the folding and in the function of a big fraction of the human proteome is well established. The role of disulfide bonding in preventing and managing protein misfolding and aggregation is currently under investigation. New insights into their involvement in neurodegenerative diseases, their effect on the process of protein misfolding and aggregation, and into the role of the cellular machineries devoted to disulfide bond formation in neurodegenerative diseases are emerging. These studies mark a step forward in the comprehension of the biological base of neurodegenerative disorders and highlight the numerous questions that still remain open.

scholarly journals Possibilities of Combinatorial Therapy: Insulin Dysregulation and the Growth Hormone Perspective on Neurodegeneration

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyanka Sengupta ◽  
Debashis Mukhopadhyay
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Growth Hormone ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Insulin Receptor ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽  
Protein Misfolding ◽  
Combinatorial Therapy ◽  
Insulin Pathway ◽  
Insulin Dysregulation ◽  
Receptor Family

RTKs have been reported to be implicated in several neurodegenerative disorders and the roles of insulin receptor family have emerged as a key common pathway across diseases. Thus we focussed on the Insulin receptor family and discussed the irregulation from the growth hormone axis. The signaling, regulation and physiology of the production in liver and CNS has never been discussed in signaling perspectives and is extremely crucial for understanding the possibilities of IGF1 in neurodegeneration specifically. The commonalities across neurodegenerative diseases such as oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and protein misfolding and insulin pathway anomalies have been elucidated and correlated with the insulin pathway. The crosstalk possibilities of the pathways, along with other regulatory modes for the development of combinatorial therapy have been discussed to visualize a common platform for neurodegenerative diseases including AD, PD, HD, ALS and FTD. Furthermore, the incretin based therapies that have gradually emerged as alternatives for insulin based therapy due to its inherent drawback of resistance has been briefly discussed.

Animal Models of Neurodegenerative Diseases

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Baglietto-Vargas ◽  
Rahasson R. Ager ◽  
Rodrigo Medeiros ◽  
Frank M. LaFerla
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽  
Human Disease ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Preclinical Studies ◽  
Pathological Features ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Brain

The incidence and prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and Huntington’s disease (HD), etc.) are growing rapidly due to increasing life expectancy. Researchers over the past two decades have focused their efforts on the development of animal models to dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders. Existing models, however, do not fully replicate the symptomatic and pathological features of human diseases. This chapter focuses on animal models of AD, as this disorder is the most prevalent of the brain degenerative conditions afflicting society. In particular, it briefly discusses the current leading animal models, the translational relevance of the preclinical studies using such models, and the limitations and shortcomings of using animals to model human disease. It concludes with a discussion of potential means to improve future models to better recapitulate human conditions.

scholarly journals Molecular Chaperone Dysfunction in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Effects of Curcumin

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panchanan Maiti ◽  
Jayeeta Manna ◽  
Shobi Veleri ◽  
Sally Frautschy
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Heat Shock ◽  
Heat Shock Proteins ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Protein Misfolding ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Aggregate Size ◽  
Peptide Sequence ◽  
Treatment Regimens ◽  
Shock Proteins

The intra- and extracellular accumulation of misfolded and aggregated amyloid proteins is a common feature in several neurodegenerative diseases, which is thought to play a major role in disease severity and progression. The principal machineries maintaining proteostasis are the ubiquitin proteasomal and lysosomal autophagy systems, where heat shock proteins play a crucial role. Many protein aggregates are degraded by the lysosomes, depending on aggregate size, peptide sequence, and degree of misfolding, while others are selectively tagged for removal by heat shock proteins and degraded by either the proteasome or phagosomes. These systems are compromised in different neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, developing novel targets and classes of therapeutic drugs, which can reduce aggregates and maintain proteostasis in the brains of neurodegenerative models, is vital. Natural products that can modulate heat shock proteins/proteosomal pathway are considered promising for treating neurodegenerative diseases. Here we discuss the current knowledge on the role of HSPs in protein misfolding diseases and knowledge gained from animal models of Alzheimer’s disease, tauopathies, and Huntington’s diseases. Further, we discuss the emerging treatment regimens for these diseases using natural products, like curcumin, which can augment expression or function of heat shock proteins in the cell.

scholarly journals Mitophagy Regulates Neurodegenerative Diseases

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1876
Author(s):  
Xufeng Cen ◽  
Manke Zhang ◽  
Mengxin Zhou ◽  
Lingzhi Ye ◽  
Hongguang Xia
Keyword(s):  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Metabolic Process ◽  
Recent Advances

Mitochondria play an essential role in supplying energy for the health and survival of neurons. Mitophagy is a metabolic process that removes dysfunctional or redundant mitochondria. This process preserves mitochondrial health. However, defective mitophagy triggers the accumulation of damaged mitochondria, causing major neurodegenerative disorders. This review introduces molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways behind mitophagy regulation. Furthermore, we focus on the recent advances in understanding the potential role of mitophagy in the pathogenesis of major neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, etc.) and aging. The findings will help identify the potential interventions of mitophagy regulation and treatment strategies of neurodegenerative diseases.

scholarly journals Reactive Oxygen Species in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Implications in Pathogenesis and Treatment Strategies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johnson Olaleye Oladele ◽  
Adenike T. Oladiji ◽  
Oluwaseun Titilope Oladele ◽  
Oyedotun M. Oyeleke
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Reactive Oxygen Species ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽  
Protein Misfolding ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Reactive Oxygen ◽  
Oxygen Species ◽  
The Brain

Neurodegenerative diseases are debilitating disorders which compromise motor or cognitive functions and are rapidly becoming a global communal disorder with over 46.8 million people suffering dementia worldwide. Aetiological studies have showed that people who are exposed to agricultural, occupational and environmental toxic chemicals that can interfere and degenerate dopaminergic neurons are prone to developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson Disease. The complex pathogenesis of the neurodegenerative diseases remains largely unknown; however, mounting evidence suggests that oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, protein misfolding, and apoptosis are the hallmarks of the diseases. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are chemically reactive molecules that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. ROS play a critical role as high levels of oxidative stress are commonly observed in the brain of patients with neurodegenerative disorders. This chapter focus on the sources of ROS in the brain, its involvement in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and possible ways to mitigate its damaging effects in the affected brain.

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Role of Mitophagy in Neurodegeneration

2020 ◽  
pp. 63-87
Author(s):  
Abhilasha Ahlawat ◽  
Meenakshi Kaira ◽  
Vaibhav Walia ◽  
Munish Garg
Keyword(s):  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Therapeutic Activity ◽  
Efficient Removal ◽  
Selective Autophagy

Mitophagy is a selective autophagy process in which damaged or surplus mitochondria are removed to sustain normal homeostasis. The efficient removal of damaged or stressed mitochondria is crucial for cellular health. Recent literature emphasizes the role of PINK1-Parkin pathways in the pathogenesis process of various neurodegenerative disorders. Further, mitophagy has shown potential therapeutic activity in treating neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, mitophagy might be important in the field of pharmacotherapeutics. In the present chapter, the authors explain mitophagy, mitophagy signaling pathways, as well as mechanisms and roles of mitophagy in various neurodegenerative disorders.

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