Abstract
Mutations of human Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) are found in about 20 percent of patients with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Expression of high levels of human SOD containing a substitution of glycine to alanine at position 93--a change that has little effect on enzyme activity--caused motor neuron disease in transgenic mice. The mice became paralyzed in one or more limbs as a result of motor neuron loss from the spinal cord and died by 5 to 6 months of age. The results show that dominant, gain-of-function mutations in SOD contribute to the pathogenesis of familial ALS.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / enzymology
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / genetics*
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / pathology
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Animals
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Brain / enzymology
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Disease Models, Animal
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Transgenic
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Motor Endplate / pathology
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Motor Neuron Disease / enzymology
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Motor Neuron Disease / genetics*
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Motor Neuron Disease / pathology
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Motor Neurons / enzymology
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Motor Neurons / pathology
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Muscles / innervation
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Muscles / pathology
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Mutation
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Pedigree
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Spinal Cord / pathology
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Superoxide Dismutase / genetics*
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Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism