ALS

Jamshed Arslan, Pharm D, PhD

By Michalina Hanzel, PhD

By Jamshed Arslan Pharm.D.

By Stephanie Melchor

By Jamshed Arslan Pharm.D.

Transportin 1, also known as Karyopherin- β 2 or Importin- β 2, is part of the β-karyopherins family, which consists of importins and exportins responsible for the active transport of proteins between the nucleus and cytoplasm.  Transportin 1 is composed of twenty HEAT (or a tandem repeat protein structural motif comprised of two alpha helices that end with a short loop) stacks that form a helix.  In the presence of Ran-GTP, Transportin 1 undergoes a conformational change to release the cargo it’s transporting.  Transportin 1 is known to bi

Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), also known as Glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII), is a type II transmembrane glycoprotein that belongs to the M28 peptidase family. It acts as a glutamate carboxypeptidase on different substrates such as folate as well as the neuropeptide N-acetyl-l-aspartyl-l-glutamate. PSMA is expressed in a number of tissues including prostate, kidney, and both the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a neurological disease which impacts motor neurons that are involved in muscle movement throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of neurons causes weakened muscles and can lead to paralysis. There is no cure for ALS, but riluzole has been used to help with the damage to the motor neurons.

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The exact function of Peripherin, or Neurofilament 4, is unknown however it has been suggested to play a role in axon formation and determining and maintaining the shape of nerve cells. Peripherin is a 470 amino acid Class-III neuronal intermediate filament protein. It has two isoforms produced by alternative splicing, one with a molecular weight of 53.651 KDa and one with a molecular weight of 53.779 KDa.