Marco Carnaroli
Computational search for inhibitors of SOD1 mutant infectivity as potential therapeutics for ALS disease.
Rel. Jacek Adam Tuszynski, Marco Agostino Deriu. Politecnico di Torino, Master of science program in Biomedical Engineering, 2024
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Abstract
Familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the selective degeneration of motor neurons. Among the main genetic causes of ALS, over 200 mutations have been identified in the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) protein, a dimeric metalloenzyme essential for converting superoxides from cellular respiration into less toxic products. Point mutations in SOD1 monomers can induce protein misfolding, which spreads to wild-type monomers through a prion-like mechanism, leading to dysfunctions that contribute to the development of the disease. Understanding the structural and functional differences between the wild-type protein and its mutated variants, as well as developing drugs capable of inhibiting the propagation of misfolding, is crucial for identifying new therapeutic strategies.
In this work, seven SOD1 mutations (A4V, G41D, G41S, D76V, G85R and I104F) were selected, and three-dimensional models of SOD1 dimers composed of one wild-type monomer and one mutated monomer were generated, along with a control dimer consisting solely of wild-type monomers
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