Protein Pathway Involved In Parkinson Disease Development

Scientists have found a novel signaling pathway in cells that is altered by genetic mutations recently identified in Parkinson disease development. These new findings show how the mutations affect cellular function and could provide a target for drug therapies to treat the disease. The research by a team of Emory University scientists will be published June 18 in the Public Library of Science Biology (PLoS Biology) journal.

Parkinson disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system resulting from the loss of neurons in the brain that produce dopamine. This lowering of dopamine leads to decreased stimulation of the brain's motor cortex. Although scientists have not known the exact cause of the loss of these dopamine-producing neurons, they believe it is related to dysfunctional mitochondria and oxidative stress. Mitochondria are the cell's "power plants," which metabolize oxygen and generate energy. Oxidative stress is the damage caused to cells by reactive oxygen produced during oxygen metabolism.

Although cells have mechanisms in place to protect against oxidative damage, this system can break down in the face of environmental challenges or genetic mutations.

The Emory researchers found that the mitochondrial protein PINK1 normally protects cells from oxidative stress and promotes cell survival by regulating function of the protein TRAP1. When PINK1 is mutated, however, the protective TRAP1 pathway is disrupted, leading to mitochondrial damage.

Other scientists recently have linked early onset Parkinson disease to mutations in both copies of the PINK1 gene (one from each parent). They also have evidence that single-copy mutations in PINK1 are a significant risk factor for the development of later-onset Parkinson disease.

"We now know much more about the effect of PINK1 mutations on the mitochondria and how this novel signaling pathway is disrupted in the development of Parkinson disease," says Lian Li, PhD, associate professor of pharmacology in Emory University School of Medicine and research team leader. "We believe the PINK1 and TRAP1 pathway may be a future target for therapeutic intervention."

###

Other authors of the PLoS paper were Julia W. Pridgeon, PhD, James A. Olzmann, PhD and Lih-Shen Chin, PhD.

The research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health.

Contact: Holly Korschun
Emory University


Parkinson's Disease Abortion Acid Reflux / GERD ADHD Aid / Disasters Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs Allergy Alzheimer's / Dementia Anxiety / Stress Arthritis Autism Bio-terrorism / Terrorism Biology / Biochemistry Bipolar Bird Flu / Avian Flu Blood / Hematology Body Aches Bones / Orthopaedics Breast Cancer Cancer / Oncology Cardiovascular / Cardiology Caregivers / Homecare Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine Cholesterol CJD / vCJD / Mad Cow Disease Cleft Palate Clinical Trials / Drug Trials Colorectal Cancer Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine Compliance Conferences Cosmetic Medicine / Plastic Surgery Crohn's Cystic Fibrosis Dentistry Depression Dermatology Diabetes Dyslexia Ear, Nose and Throat Eating Disorders Endocrinology Epilepsy Erectile Dysfunction / Premature Ejaculation Eye Health Fertility Flu / Cold / SARS GastroIntestinal / Gastroentorology Genetics Gout Headache / Migraine Health Insurance / Medical Insurance Hearing / Deafness HIV / AIDS Huntingtons Disease Hypertension Immune System / Vaccines Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses Irritable-Bowel Syndrome IT / Internet / E-mail Liver Disease / Hepatitis Lung Cancer Lupus Lymphoma / Leukemia Medical Devices Medical Malpractice / Litigation Medical Students Medicare / Medicaid / Tricare Men's health Mental Health MRI / PET / Ultrasound MRSA / Drug Resistance Multiple Sclerosis Muscular Dystrophy / ALS Neurology / Neuroscience Nursing / Midwifery Nutrition / Diet Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness Pain / Anesthetics Parkinson's Disease Pediatrics / Children's Health Pharma / Biotech Industry Pharmacy / Pharmacists Pregnancy Primary Care / General Practice Prostate / Prostate Cancer Psychology / Psychiatry Public Health Radiology / Nuclear Medicine Rehabilitation Respiratory / Asthma Schizophrenia Seniors / Aging Sexual Health / STDs Sleep / Sleep Disorders Smoking / Quit Smoking Sports Medicine / Fitness Statins Stem Cell Research Stroke / Neuroprotection Transplants / Organ Donations Tropical Diseases Urology / Nephrology Veterinary Water - Air Quality / Agriculture Women's Health / OBGYN

Additional information :

From www.medicalnewstoday.com:
Contains a great deal of information about chemical substances. The substances range from helpful drugs to potentially.
Health information from the National Library of Medicine. Easy access to Medline and Health topics, medical dictionaries, directories.
As part of its Profiles in Science project, the National Library of Medicine has digitized and made available over the World Wide Web the Reports.
Welcome to the Website of the German National Library of Medicine. All the Information You Need On Medicine, Health Care, Nutrition, the Environment.
Welcome to the Communications Engineering Branch of the Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications at the National.