title: Localization of DJ-1 protein in the murine brain.
abstract: Mutations in the DJ-1 gene have been identified to cause Parkinson's disease. In humans, nonmutated DJ-1 is expressed in specific brain areas but seems to be expressed by astrocytes rather than by neurons. In contrast, DJ-1 mRNA is mainly found in neurons in the mouse brain. We have investigated the distribution of DJ-1 protein in the mouse brain and found that DJ-1 protein is predominantly expressed by neurons but can also be detected in astrocytes. Consistent with a global role of DJ-1 in the brain, we found immunoreactivity, for example, in cortical areas, hippocampus, basolateral amygdala, the reticular nucleus of the thalamus, zona incerta, and locus coeruleus. Within the substantia nigra, however, DJ-1 is localized in both neuronal and nonneuronal cells, suggesting a distinct role in this area.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Chemical Neuroanatomy, Georgian Academy of Sciences, 14 Gotua Str, 380060, Tbilisi, Georgia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kotaria
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hinz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zechel
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: von Bohlen Und Halbach
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D054464:Peroxiredoxins; D000071617:Protein Deglycase DJ-1; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D054464:Peroxiredoxins; C503466:PARK7 protein, mouse; D000071617:Protein Deglycase DJ-1