BDNF and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: As noted, the suppression of NAS, especially at the NMJ, may be of particular importance in ALS, given the significant role that TrkB-FL activation by BDNF or NAS has on the maintenance of the NMJ, thereby indicating that a decrease in tryptophan availability or uptake, and its conversion by 14-3-3e-stabilized TPH2, may be of particular importance in ALS, especially at the muscle-NMJ interface, with any factors suppressing the availability of NAS likely to increase MNs susceptibility to apoptosis.