title: Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2: relevance to Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Human leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is a novel kinase belonging to the ROCO protein superfamily (Ras of complex proteins (Roc) with a C-terminal of Roc domain). This large complex protein of 280kDa contains several functional domains including leucine-rich repeats, Ras-related GTPase, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK), and WD40 repeats. While definitive functions of LRRK2 have yet to be described, the domain structure of LRRK2 suggests that it plays an important role in the regulation of signal transduction cascades through its dual enzymatic activities of GTPase and MAPKKK. Moreover, mutations in LRRK2 have been found to be thus far the most frequent cause of late-onset familial and idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Further investigations should allow for the elucidation of how pathogenic mutations trigger changes in the structure and function of LRRK2 that lead to aberrant signal transduction and neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
authors.forename: Luxuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shu G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D000071158:Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010641:Phenotype; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C495280:LRRK2 protein, human; D000071158:Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases