Human ceruloplasmin and neurotransmitters: complex stabilization and crystallization

"...1.4. Ceruloplasmin and neurodegeneration
Both GPI-anchored and secreted hCp enable IREG 1 to conduct the efflux of iron from cells of the CNS (Jeong and David, 2003). All these notions tend to indicate the important role of Cp in iron metabolism and this concept has been strengthened by some recent findings, including the one described for severe disorders of iron metabolism in aceruloplasminemia. It has been suggested that hCp catalyzed oxidation of biogenic amines, such as epinephrine, norepinephrine and serotonin, may be of importance in regulating the level of these stress hormones in the bloodstream and even- tually in those areas of the brain where they act as neurotransmitters. Thus, hCp by its effect on the lifetime of biogenic amines in the bloodstream could play an important role in the regulation of brain chemistry necessary for mental function. It is also important to understand if hCp is able to enhance the oxidation of 6-hydroxydopamine (Medda et al., 1996), an intermediate product on the way to the formation of dopamine-melanin (Chapman et al., 1970). Oxidation of 6-hydroxydopamine by hCp does not result in H2O2 production. It seems likely that Cp might be the enzyme that controls or par- ticipates in controlling catecholamine oxidation in the brain and that its deficiency in cerebral struc- tures underlies Parkinson’s disease and perhaps other neurodegenerative syndromes (Floris et al., 2000). Enhanced oxidation of dopamine by hCp has been invoked to explain the lower dopamine levels found in Parkinson’s disease. ..."

Full paper: http://run.unl.pt/bitstream/10362/10853/1/Moutinho_2013.pdf