Insights from Caenorhabditis elegans on the role of metals in neurodegenerative diseases

Ebany J. Martinez-Finley; Daiana Silva Avila; Sudipta Chakraborty; Michael Aschner

doi:10.1039/C0MT00064G

Insights from Caenorhabditis elegans on the role of metals in neurodegenerative diseases†

Ebany J. Martinez-Finley,^ab Daiana Silva Avila,^a Sudipta Chakraborty^bc and Michael Aschner*^abcd

* Corresponding authors

^a Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Pediatric Toxicology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 11425 MRB IV, 2215-B Garland Ave., Nashville, USA
E-mail: michael.aschner@vanderbilt.edu
Tel: 615-322-8024

^b Center in Molecular Toxicology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, USA

^c Center for Molecular Neuroscience, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, USA

^d The Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Division of Pediatric Toxicology, Nashville, USA

Abstract

Neurodegeneration is characterized by the cell death or loss of structure and/or function of neurons. Many neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are the result of neurodegenerative processes. Metals are essential for many life processes, but they are also culpable for several neurodegenerative mechanisms. In this review, we discuss the role of metals in neurodegenerative diseases with emphasis on the utility of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) genetic models in deciphering mechanisms associated with the etiology of PD and AD.

This article is part of the themed collection: Metals in Neurodegenerative Disease

Metallomics

Insights from Caenorhabditis elegans on the role of metals in neurodegenerative diseases†

Abstract

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