It is evident from the literature that most cellular functions are mediated by protein phosphorylation. It has also been demonstrated that abnormal phosphorylation of neuronal cytoskeletal proteins often leads to the pathology of several neuro-degenerative diseases. A few studies, as we have seen, implicate septins in neuro-degeneration, a correlation between septin phosphorylation and pathology, as is the case for tau, another cytoskeletal protein, has not been reported. Nevertheless, in view of the well established role of abnormally hyperactivated Cdk5/p25 in AD and ALS. The defects may manifest themselves not as tangles, nor plaques, but as more subtle synaptic malfunctions leading to defects in motor behavior, memory and learning. Those few studies focused on septin phosphorylation by Cdk5 have identified dramatic effects on synaptic function and should stimulate a more intensive exploration of the relationship between hyperactive Cdk5/p25 and septins in various neuro-degenerative disorders.
Last date updated on March, 2024