Calbindin-D28K and parvalbumin are absent in motoneuron populations lost early in ALS (e.g. cortical and spinal motoneurons, lower cranial nerve motoneurons), while motoneurons rarely affected or damaged late during the disease express markedly higher levels of these calcium-buffering proteins [110]. The gene discussed is PVALB; the disease is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.