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Caspase activity sows the seeds of neuronal death

Nature Cell Biology volume 1, pages E44–E45 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

Caspases, proteases involved in programmed cell death, may have a role in Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases. Localized caspase activation and apoptosis may be linked to the initiation of such chronic neurodegenerative diseases.

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Figure 1: Caspase-mediated cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and Huntingtin protein promotes the formation of cell-toxic protein fragments (red), leading to cell death.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology Harvard Medical School, 240 Longwood Avenue, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Junying Yuan

  2. Department of Neurology Harvard Medical School, and Children’s Hospital, Enders 260, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Bruce A. Yankner

Authors
  1. Junying Yuan
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  2. Bruce A. Yankner
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Correspondence to Junying Yuan.

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Yuan, J., Yankner, B. Caspase activity sows the seeds of neuronal death. Nat Cell Biol 1, E44–E45 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/10037

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