We also find that neuronal over-expression of CAST in hSOD1(G93A) transgenic mice inhibited production of putative neurotoxic caspase-cleaved tau and activation of Cdk5, which have been implicated in neurodegeneration in ALS models, and also reduced the formation of SOD1 oligomers.
The deregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) by p25 has been shown to contribute to the pathogenesis in a number of neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD).
One gene in the candidate interval, CDK5, was selected for immediate mutation analysis based upon its known association with an ALS-like phenotype in mice however, no mutations were identified.
Importantly, increasing evidence has linked Cdk5 to the etiopathology of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
These results indicate that a cell cycle signaling at the neuronal G1-S checkpoint subsequent to Cdk5 deregulation may constitute a critical step of the neuronal death pathway in ALS caused by mutant SOD1.