vAlthough the molecular targets for lead are unknown, a
vast amount of evidence
accumulated over many years has shown that lead disrupts processes that are regulated by calcium.
vPicomolar
concentrations of lead can replace micromolar concentrations of calcium in a
protein kinase C enzyme assay. Furthermore, lead activates protein kinase C in intact
cells and induces the expression
of new genes by a mechanism dependent on protein kinase C. We propose that the learning
deficits caused by lead are
due to events regulated by protein kinase C that most likely occur at the synapse.
Bressler J, Kim KA, Chakraborti T, Goldstein
GMolecular mechanisms of lead neurotoxicity. Neurochem Res
1999 Apr;24(4):595-600