Author(s): Oh Dae Kwon
Apolipoprotein E is a plasma protein that has an important role in transport and metabolism of lipids in serum as well as in central nervous system. Among the three common alleles, the ε2 allele has the most stable structure followed by ε3 and ε4 in order. There is evidence for a deleterious role of apolipoprotein ε4 by atherosclerosis and amyloid beta accumulation in brain and body by the differences of three-dimensional structures among the apoE isoforms. APOE ε4 also seems to be related to cognitive decline in Parkinson’s disease but not too related to the age at onset of Parkinson’s disease.
