The chemical mechanism of oxidative stress by copper(II) and iron(III) ions in several neurodegenerative disorders

Abstract

The variety of factors and events involved in neurodegeneration renders the subject a major challenge. Neurodegenerative disorders include a number of different pathological conditions, which share similar critical metabolic processes, such as protein aggregation and oxidative stress, both of which are associated with the involvement of transition metal ions. In this artical, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease (PD), and prion disease are discussed, with the aim of identifying the common trends underlying these devastating neurological conditions by elucidating the chemical mechanism of the oxidative stress due to copper(II) and iron(III) ions.