Exploration of Neuroscience

From: Protein aggregation in progressive myoclonus epilepsies and related syndromes

Table 1. Small-molecule modulators of proteostasis pathways in neurodegeneration [58–70].

Proteostasis process	Compound (class)	Mechanism	Neurodegenerative relevance	References
Chaperone stimulation	Arimoclomol	HSF1 co-inducer, ↑ Hsp70/Hsp40	ALS, IBM, lysosomal disorders	[58, 59]
	Celastrol	HSF1 activator	Reduces polyQ and α-syn aggregation	[60]
	17-AAG (geldanamycin derivative)	Hsp90 inhibitor → HSF1 activation	Broad proteotoxicity models	[61]
	Novel HSF1 activators	Direct HSF1 agonism	Emerging neurodegeneration candidates	[62]
Autophagy enhancement	Rapamycin/Rapalogs	mTOR inhibition	AD, PD, HD, ALS	[63]
	Trehalose	mTOR-independent autophagy	Clearance of mutant huntingtin, α-syn	[64]
	Spermidine	Polyamine, autophagy inducer	Neuroprotection, healthy aging	[65]
	Resveratrol/Curcumin	AMPK/SIRT1 activation	Broad autophagy-mediated protection	[66, 67]
UPS strengthening	IU1 (USP14 inhibitor)	Enhances proteasomal degradation	Misfolded protein clearance	[68]
	Proteasome activators	Allosteric 20S/26S activation	Counters age-related proteasome decline	[69]
	UPS-modulating small molecules	Ubiquitination/Assembly modulators	AD, PD, ALS models	[70]

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The table presents some small molecule modulators, drugs already used for other neurodegenerative conditions, such as AD, ALS, HD or in reversing ageing. AAG: alkyladenine glycosylase; AD: Alzheimer’s disease; ALS: amylotrophic lateral sclerosis; AMPK/SIRT1: AMP-activated protein kinase/Sirtuin 1; HD: Huntington’s disease; HSF1: heat shock factor 1; IBM: inclusion body myositis; IU1: small-molecule inhibitor of the USP14 proteasome-associated deubiquitinating enzyme; PD: Parkinson’s disease; UPS: ubiquitin proteasome system.

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EŽ: Conceptualization, Investigation, Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. The author read and approved the submitted version.

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The author acknowledges support by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency—ARIS program P1-0140 (led by B. Turk). The funders had no direct role in the review paper design, data collection and analysis and decision to publish.

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