Huntingtin Protein and Protein Aggregation
Part 4

What Causes the Onset of HD?

Does mutant huntingtin protein itself kill nerve cells?

Not directly. As we have seen, one way Htt indirectly leads to nerve cell damage and toxicity is through the formation of protein aggregates and neuronal inclusions. These structures can interfere with several crucial cellular proteins and systems. Researchers have explored a number of hypotheses regarding the mechanisms by which huntingtin aggregates cause cell dysfunction in HD.

Last Modified: 9-13-02

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