SORL1
Encyclopedia
SORL1 is a neuron
al apolipoprotein E
receptor
, the gene
for which is predominantly expressed in the central nervous system.
. Lack of the APOE receptor is suspected to be a contributory factor to Alzheimer's: a significant reduction in SORL1 (LR11) expression
has been found in brain tissue of Alzheimer's disease patients. The APOE receptor has also been linked with regulation of amyloid precursor protein
, faulty processing of which is implicated in Alzheimer's. A more recent study by a group of international researchers supports the proposition that SORL1 plays a part in seniors developing Alzheimer's disease, the findings being significant across racial and ethnic strata.
Neuron
A neuron is an electrically excitable cell that processes and transmits information by electrical and chemical signaling. Chemical signaling occurs via synapses, specialized connections with other cells. Neurons connect to each other to form networks. Neurons are the core components of the nervous...
al apolipoprotein E
Apolipoprotein E
Apolipoprotein E is a class of apolipoprotein found in the chylomicron and IDLs that binds to a specific receptor on liver cells and peripheral cells. It is essential for the normal catabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoprotein constituents.-Function:...
receptor
Receptor (biochemistry)
In biochemistry, a receptor is a molecule found on the surface of a cell, which receives specific chemical signals from neighbouring cells or the wider environment within an organism...
, the gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
for which is predominantly expressed in the central nervous system.
Connection with Alzheimer's disease
Mutation of the gene for apolipoprotein E (APOE) is predictive of Alzheimer's diseaseAlzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
. Lack of the APOE receptor is suspected to be a contributory factor to Alzheimer's: a significant reduction in SORL1 (LR11) expression
Gene expression
Gene expression is the process by which information from a gene is used in the synthesis of a functional gene product. These products are often proteins, but in non-protein coding genes such as ribosomal RNA , transfer RNA or small nuclear RNA genes, the product is a functional RNA...
has been found in brain tissue of Alzheimer's disease patients. The APOE receptor has also been linked with regulation of amyloid precursor protein
Amyloid precursor protein
Amyloid precursor protein is an integral membrane protein expressed in many tissues and concentrated in the synapses of neurons. Its primary function is not known, though it has been implicated as a regulator of synapse formation, neural plasticity and iron export...
, faulty processing of which is implicated in Alzheimer's. A more recent study by a group of international researchers supports the proposition that SORL1 plays a part in seniors developing Alzheimer's disease, the findings being significant across racial and ethnic strata.
External links
- SORL1 references from NCBI.
- "Study Detects a Gene Linked to Alzheimer’s". N. Wade, New York Times, Jan. 15, 2007.