Programmed neuronal cell death is a feature of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease, which occur later in human life. Huntington’s disease at the molecular and cell level is characterized by polyglutamine expansion of the protein huntingtin (Htt) that leads to apoptotis-mediated neurodegenerative loss of medium spiny neurons throughout the striatum. Polyglutamine expansion reduces the level of association between Hip-1 and Htt, thereby increasing levels of free Hip-1 that then can be the candidate protein Hippi (Hip-1 protein interactor).
