Project Summary/Abstract
Mutations in the PTEN induced kinase 1 (PINK1) gene cause autosomal recessive Parkinson's disease (PD).
The main pathological hallmarks of PD are loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta,
which are required for normal movement, and the formation of a-synuclein rich aggregates termed Lewy body
inclusions. Preliminary data from our lab and published reports on PINK1 knockout (KO) rats have demonstrated
that the rats have mitochondrial dysfunction, locomotor deficits, loss of neurons in the substantia nigra and locus
coeruleus, and a-synuclein aggregates in different brain regions including the substantia nigra, striatum, and
cortex. PINK1 is a mitochondrial targeted kinase involved in the clearance of damaged mitochondria. In neurons,
mitochondria are predominantly located in the pre-synaptic terminal, where they provide the energy needed for
vesicle movement and synaptic transmission. a- Synuclein is also predominantly localized to the pre-synaptic
terminal where it has reported functions in movement of synaptic vesicles from the reserve pool to the readily
releasable pool. Given the importance of both mitochondria and a-synuclein to synaptic transmission, and the
effect of PINK1 deficiency on mitochondrial health and a-synuclein accumulation, it remains to be determined
whether PINK1 KO rats have deficits in synaptic transmission. It is also unknown whether a-synuclein pathology
is simply an end byproduct of the accumulation of damaged mitochondria or, whether it directly contributes to
the observed pathological processes in PINK1 KO rats. Our preliminary findings, as well as published reports,
have led us to the hypothesis that PINK1 deficiency leads to a-synuclein aggregation, which causes a cascade
of synaptic dysfunction, locomotor abnormalities, and dopaminergic neuron loss. To determine a-synuclein's role
in the pathophysiology of PINK1 KO rats, we will utilize a combination of electrophysiological, histological,
biochemical and behavioral analyses. The results will indicate whether a-synuclein aggregation itself drives the
observed pathology, providing an answer to the importance of targeting a-synuclein interventions to halt or slow
PD progression.