Abstract
Genetic forms of parkinsonism are interesting for two particular reasons. First, finding a gene identifies a cause for a disease that would otherwise be unexplained. Second, finding several genes for the same disorder allows us to reconstruct molecular pathways that, in the example of Parkinson's disease, are be associated with the survival of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra. Two rare causes of parkinsonism, DJ-1 and PINK1, are associated with mitochondria. This organelle has long been linked with Parkinson's disease, and recent results are starting to show how mutations impact mitochondrial function. In this short review, I will discuss how we can use some of this information to understand why it is that neurons become dysfunctional in PD.
Publication types
-
Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
-
Review
MeSH terms
-
Animals
-
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
-
Humans
-
Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
-
Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
-
Mitochondria / genetics
-
Mitochondria / metabolism*
-
Mitochondria / pathology
-
Oncogene Proteins / genetics
-
Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
-
Oxidative Stress / physiology
-
Parkinsonian Disorders / genetics
-
Parkinsonian Disorders / metabolism
-
Parkinsonian Disorders / pathology*
-
Protein Deglycase DJ-1
-
Protein Kinases / genetics
-
Protein Kinases / metabolism*
Substances
-
Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
-
Oncogene Proteins
-
Protein Kinases
-
PTEN-induced putative kinase
-
PARK7 protein, human
-
Protein Deglycase DJ-1