Abstract

Lafora Disease (LD) is a fatal teenage-onset progressive myoclonus epilepsy. It is characterized by the formation of Lafora bodies (LBs), deposits of abnormally branched, insoluble, hyperphosphorylated glycogen-like polymers that are generally believed to trigger the development of the clinical symptoms of LD. 58% and 35% of the LD cases are caused by mutations in EPM2A (laforin) and EPM2B (malin), respectively. However, little is known about their function in LB formation. Two different mechanisms have been proposed to explain the accumulation of insoluble LBs: first, excessive glycogen phosphorylation and, second, an imbalance between glycogen synthesizing enzymes. The present study aims at the identification of proteins involved in the molecular mechanisms leading to LB formation and appearance of LD and the phosphorylation of glycogen.

Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

9-13-2013

Notes/Citation Information

Published in Molecular Neurodegeneration, v. 8 (Suppl. 1): P36.

© 2013 Schokraie et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

From Molecular Neurodegeneration: Basic biology and disease pathways (Cannes, France: 10-12 September 2013).

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1750-1326-8-S1-P36

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