background: despite the genetic heterogeneity reported in familial als (fals), sod1 gene mutations are the most frequent cause of fals, accounting for around 20% of familial cases (als1) and isolated sporadic cases. mutant forms of sod1 exhibit toxicity that promotes the death of motor neurons. it is well documented that fals produces protein aggregates in the motor neurons of fals patients, wh...

Dominant mutations in Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) cause a familial form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS). Misfolding and aggregation of mutant SOD1 proteins are a pathological hallmark of SOD1-related fALS cases; however, the molecular mechanism of SOD1 aggregation remains controversial. Here, I have used E. coli as a model organism and shown multiple distinct pathways of SOD1 aggr...

Cytoplasmic Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) is an antioxidant enzyme that converts superoxide to hydrogen peroxide in cells. Its spatial distribution matches that of superoxide production, allowing it to protect cells from oxidative stress. SOD1 deficiencies result in embryonic lethality and a wide range of pathologies in mice, but little is known about normal SOD1 protein expression in devel...

The role of Mycoplasma pneumoniae-generated superoxide and hydrogen peroxide in inducing host cell injury was studied in normal and trisomy 21 human cells. As a result of M. pneumoniae infection, catalase activity in infected normal skin fibroblasts and ciliated epithelial cells decreased by 74-77% as compared with uninfected controls. Addition of superoxide dismutase to the infected cultured c...

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal degenerative disease of motor neurons. About 10 % of ALS cases are affected in a familial trait, a subset of which is caused by the mutation of Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene (Rosen et al., 1993). Since the identification of the gene for familial ALS, research emphasis for ALS has been placed on uncovering the pathogenic mechanism of motor...

Impairment of endothelium-dependent responses is an early landmark of endothelial dysfunction in blood vessels with aging and/or cardiovascular diseases.1 A critical manifestation of endothelial dysfunction is the reduced bioavailability of NO, a key vascular protective molecule and an independent predictor of cardiovascular events.2 Hence, stimuli decreasing vascular NO bioavailability manifes...

This study investigated the effect of Cordyceps sinensis oral liquid (CSOL) on the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly). Following the lifelong treatment of fruit flies with CSOL, lifespan was examined. The activity of copper-zinc-containing superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), manganese-containing superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) and catalase (CAT), as well as the lipofuscin (LF) content wer...

Mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) action within non-neuronal cells is implicated in damage to spinal motor neurons in a genetic form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Central nervous system glial cells such as astrocytes and microglia drive progression in transgenic mutant SOD1 mice, however, the role of myelinating glia remains unclear. Specifically, peripheral myelinating glial cells...