Human Molecular Genetics Advance Access published online on April 4, 2007
Human Molecular Genetics, doi:10.1093/hmg/ddm080
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Apoptotic mechanisms in mutant LRRK2-mediated cell death
1 Dept. of Physiological, Biochemical and Cell Science, University of Sassari, Via Muroni 25, 07100 Sassari, Italy 2 Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, c/o CERC, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy 3 Dept. of Neurological Science University of Naples "Federico II", Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy 4 Istituto di Diagnostica e Cura "Hermitage" Capodimonte, Via Cupa Delle Tozzole, 2, 80143 Naples, Italy 5 Dept. of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
* To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Dept. of Neurological Science University of Naples "Federico II", Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy. Email: barone{at}unina.it
Received December 6, 2006; Revised January 29, 2007; Accepted March 23, 2007
Mutations in the gene coding for leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) cause autosomal-dominant Parkinson's disease. The pathological mutations have been associated with an increase of LRRK2 kinase activity although its physiological substrates have not been identified yet. The data we report here demonstrate that disease-associated mutant LRRK2 cell toxicity is due to mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. Transient transfection of mutant LRRK2 leads to neuronal death with clear apoptotic signs. Soluble caspase inhibitors or the genetic ablation of Apaf1 protects cells from apoptotic death. Moreover, we explored the function of two protein domains in LRRK2 (LRR and WD40) and demonstrate that the lack of these protein domains has a protective effect on mitochondria dysfunctions induced by mutant LRRK2.
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