Molecular Targets in Protein Misfolding and Neurodegenerative Disease

Aimed at "drug discoverers" – i.e. any scientist who is interested in neurodegenerative diseases in general, and in finding disease-modifying treatments in particular – the first edition of Molecular Targets in Protein Misfolding and Neurodegenerative Disease will contain both a detailed, discipline-specific coverage (paragraphs on medicinal chemistry, on clinical and preclinical characterization of compounds in development, on target identification and validation, on genetic factors influencing a pathology, etc.) and a drug discovery-oriented, overall evaluation of each target (validation, druggability, existing leads, etc.). Together these will satisfy the needs of various audiences, including in vitro biologists, pharmacologists, medicinal chemists, etc.

Written to provide a comprehensive coverage of disease-modifying mechanisms and compounds against neurodegenerative diseasesProvides a “drug discovery” application oriented perspective, evaluating targets and candidates for their overall therapeutic potentialProvides discipline-specific chapters (medicinal chemistry, target validation, preclinical and clinical developmentProvides an overview on a number of molecular mechanisms (e.g. phosphorylation, chaperon refolding, ubiquitination, autophagy, microtubule transportation, protease cleavage, etc.) with relevance for any disease areaContains a more thorough description of the therapeutic relevance of ~10 specific molecular targets

1. Protein misfolding, neurodegeneration and Tau: The main players, or the usual suspects? 2. Targeting the protein quality control (PQC) machinery: The neuronal Salvation Army 3. Proteasomal degradation of soluble, misfolded proteins: Throwing out the bath water, but where’s the baby? 4. Unselective disposal of cellular aggregates: Engulf, devour and digest to recycle 5. Selective disposal of insoluble protein aggregates: Pick, transport and remove to cure 6. Assembly and disassembly of protein aggregates: Unraveling the maze