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Edited GluR2, a gatekeeper for motor neurone survival?
Author(s) -
Buckingham S.D.,
Kwak S.,
Jones A.K.,
Blackshaw S.E.,
Sattelle D.B.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.20836
Subject(s) - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , ampa receptor , glutamate receptor , ionotropic effect , neuroscience , motor neurone disease , biology , receptor , medicine , genetics , disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive degenerative disorder of motor neurones. Although the genetic basis of familial forms of ALS has been well explored, the molecular basis of sporadic ALS is less well understood. Recent evidence has linked sporadic ALS with the failure to edit key residues in ionotropic glutamate receptors, resulting in excessive influx of calcium ions into motor neurones which in turn triggers cell death. Here we suggest that edited AMPA glutamate (GluR2) receptor subunits serve as gatekeepers for motor neurone survival. BioEssays 30:1185–1192, 2008. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.