title: Parkin: a multifaceted ubiquitin ligase.
abstract: Mutations in the parkin gene are a common cause of autosomal recessive early-onset parkinsonism. Parkin functions as an E3 ubiquitin ligase where it can polyubiquitinate a number of its protein substrates, thus targeting them for degradation by the 26 S proteasomal complex. Recent studies have demonstrated that alternative modes of parkin-mediated ubiquitination may serve other non-degradative regulatory roles. In addition, parkin appears to function as a multipurpose neuroprotectant in a number of toxic paradigms. Coupled with these observations, parkin may integrate other gene products associated with parkinsonism, including alpha-synuclein, LRRK2 (leucine-rich repeat kinase 2), DJ-1 and PINK1 [PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10)-induced putative kinase 1], into a common biochemical pathway of potential relevance to disease pathogenesis. Parkin therefore represents a unique multifaceted ubiquitin ligase consistent with an important housekeeping role in maintaining the integrity or survival of dopaminergic neurons.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cell Engineering and Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 North Broadway, Broadway Research Building, Suite 731, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. dmoore20@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000378:metabolism; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000099202:PTEN-Induced Putative Kinase
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011494:Protein Kinases; D025801:Ubiquitin; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D000099202:PTEN-Induced Putative Kinase; C111567:parkin protein