It's a double knock-out! The quaking mouse is a spontaneous deletion of parkin and parkin co-regulated gene (PACRG).
Mutations in the parkin gene (PRKN) are the commonest cause of juvenile and early-onset parkinsonism. However, the pathogenic mechanism by which loss of parkin protein results in degeneration of dopaminergic neurons remains elusive. Animal models provide a useful tool for the study of development and disease, and the recent production of transgenic fly and mouse parkin deficient models allows investigation of the molecular role of parkin in dopamine regulation and nigrostriatal function. We have identified the mouse mutant Quaking as a spontaneously occurring PRKN knockout. The quaking mutation is a deletion of approximately 1.17 Mb of mouse chromosome 17, resulting in the deletion of the entire promoter and first five coding exons of PRKN In addition, the recently described Parkin Co-Regulated Gene (PACRG) is completely deleted. Homozygous Quaking mice show a complete loss of PRKN and PACRG mRNA and protein. These mice will constitute a useful additional model for studies of the molecular role of parkin and PACRG in neurodegeneration.
Lockhart
Paul J
PJ
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida 32224, USA.
O'Farrell
Casey A
CA
Farrer
Matthew J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D033481:Chromosomes, Mammalian; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006720:Homozygote; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout / Q000235:genetics*; D008821:Mice, Quaking / Q000235:genetics*; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000235:genetics*
D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; C471712:Pacrg protein, mouse; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; C111567:parkin protein