Abstract
The pathological assembly of Aβ, tau, and α-synuclein is at the heart of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Extracellular deposits of Aβ and intraneuronal tau inclusions define Alzheimer's disease, whereas intracellular inclusions of α-synuclein make up the Lewy pathology of Parkinson's disease. Most cases of disease are sporadic, but some are inherited in a dominant manner. Mutations frequently occur in the genes encoding Aβ, tau, and α-synuclein. Overexpression of these mutant proteins can give rise to disease-associated phenotypes. Protein assembly begins in specific regions of the brain during the process of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, from where it spreads to other areas.
Copyright © 2015, American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Alzheimer Disease / genetics
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Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
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Alzheimer Disease / pathology
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Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / genetics
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Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / metabolism*
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Brain / metabolism
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Brain / pathology
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Humans
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Lewy Bodies / metabolism
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Mutation
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Parkinson Disease / genetics
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Parkinson Disease / metabolism*
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Parkinson Disease / pathology
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Prion Diseases / metabolism*
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Prion Proteins
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Prions / genetics
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Prions / metabolism*
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alpha-Synuclein / genetics
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alpha-Synuclein / metabolism*
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tau Proteins / genetics
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tau Proteins / metabolism*
Substances
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APP protein, human
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Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
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MAPT protein, human
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PRNP protein, human
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Prion Proteins
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Prions
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SNCA protein, human
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alpha-Synuclein
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tau Proteins