Dysregulation of autophagy and Parkinson's disease: the MEF2D link.
Autophagy refers to the process by which lysosomes degrade intracellular components. Three basic forms of it, macro-, micro-, and chaperon-mediated autophagy, exist in cells. Several studies have shown that dysregulation of macroautophagy compromises the viability of neurons. Recent evidence indicates that chaperone-mediated autophagy plays a role in direct degradation of neuronal transcription factor MEF2D, a protein known to promote neuronal survival. Disruption of this regulatory pathway by α-synuclein leads to neuronal stress, which may underlie neuronal loss in Parkinson's disease.
Yang
Qian
Q
Department of Pharmacology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Mao
Zixu
Z
D000818:Animals; D001343:Autophagy; D016923:Cell Death; D006801:Humans; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000378:metabolism
D026161:MADS Domain Proteins; D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors; C578043:MEF2D protein, human; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors; D051844:alpha-Synuclein