GLYCERALDEHYDE-3-PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE, THE PUTATIVE TARGET OF THE ANTIAPOPTOTIC COMPOUNDS CGP 3466 AND R-(-)-DEPRENYL

Abstract R-(−)-Deprenyl (Selegiline) represents one of the drugs currently used for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. This compound was shown to protect neurons or glias from programmed cell death in a variety of models. The mechanism of action of neuroprotection as well as inhibition of apoptosis remains elusive. CGP 3466 is a structurally related analog ofR-(−)-deprenyl that exhibits virtually no monoamine oxidase type B inhibiting activity but is neuroprotective in the picomolar concentration range. We showed specific binding of CGP 3466 to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase by affinity binding, by affinity labeling, and by means of BIAcore® technology. Apoptosis assays based on the human neuroblastoma cell line PAJU established the importance of this interaction for mediating drug-induced inhibition of programmed cell death.