Translating protein phosphatase research into treatments for neurodegenerative diseases

Many of the major neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by the accumulation of intracellular protein aggregates in neurons and other cells in brain, suggesting that errors in protein quality control mechanisms associated with the aging process play a critical role in the onset and progression of disease. The increased understanding of the unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling network and, more specifically, the structure and function of eIF2 alpha phosphatases has enabled the development or discovery of small molecule inhibitors that show great promise in restoring protein homeostasis and ameliorating neuronal damage and death. While this review focuses attention on one or more eIF2 alpha phosphatases, the wide range of UPR proteins that are currently being explored as potential drug targets bodes well for the successful future development of therapies to preserve neuronal function and treat neurodegenerative disease.