부산대학교 도서관

As more functional redundancy in mammalian cells is discovered, enhanced expression of genes involved in alternative pathways may become an effective form of gene therapy. Xlinked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is a peroxisomal disorder with impaired very-long-chain fatty acid metabolism. The X-ALD gene encodes a peroxisomal membrane protein (ALDP) that is part of a small family of related peroxisomal membrane proteins. We show that 4-phenylbutyrate treatment of cells from both X-ALD patients and X-ALD knockout mice results in decreased levels of and increased β-oxidation of very-long-chain fatty acids; increased expression of the peroxisomal protein ALDEP; and induction of peroxisome proliferation. We also demonstrate that ALDP and ALDRP are functionally related, by ALDRP cDNA complementation of XALD fibroblasts. Finally, we demonstrate the in vivo efficacy of dietary 4-phenylbutyrate treatment through its production of a substantial reduction of very-long-chain fatty acid levels in the brain and adrenal glands of X-ALD mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]