Proteostasis Disruption in Neurodegenerative Disorders: Mechanisms and Treatment Strategies — Volume II

Building on the success of our first volume (https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/66568/proteostasis-disruption-in-neurodegenerative-disorders-mechanisms-and-treatment-strategies), this Research Topic continues to explore the molecular and cellular underpinnings of proteostasis disruption in neurodegenerative diseases. Volume I established a strong foundation by examining key pathways — including the ubiquitin-proteasome system, autophagy, molecular chaperones, and mitochondrial proteostasis — and their roles in conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and polyglutamine diseases.

This second volume continues to examine how the failure of protein quality control drives neuronal dysfunction, with a particular focus on protein degradation and proteolysis as central mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. While protein aggregation and autophagy remain part of the wider context, this volume places particular emphasis on the degradative arm of the proteostasis network.

We welcome original research, reviews, mini-reviews, brief research reports, and perspectives addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Proteolytic processing and protease dysregulation in neurodegeneration, including calpains, caspases, and the wider degradome
• Toxic proteolytic fragments and their role in disease
• The ubiquitin-proteasome system in protein quality control and its failure
• Chaperone networks and the proteostasis network as therapeutic targets
• Treatment strategies that restore or redirect protein degradation
• Mitochondrial proteostasis and proteostasis-linked transcriptional mechanisms

Studies developing or evaluating novel therapeutic approaches using in vitro, in vivo, and animal model systems are particularly encouraged.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: proteostasis, neurodegeneration, autophagy, ubiquitin-proteasome system, molecular chaperones, protein degradation, proteolysis, therapeutic strategies, proteases

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.