title: DJ-1 can inhibit microtubule associated protein 1 B formed aggregates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abnormal accumulation and aggregation of microtubule associated proteins (MAPs) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Loss-of-function mutation of DJ-1/Park7 can cause early onset of PD. DJ-1, a molecular chaperone, can inhibit α-synuclein aggregation. Currently, little is known whether or not loss of function of DJ-1 contributes to abnormal MAPs aggregation in neurodegenerative disorders such as PD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We presented evidence that DJ-1 could bind to microtubule associated protein1b Light Chain (MAP1b-LC). Overexpression of DJ-1 prevented MAP1b-LC aggregation in HEK293t and SH-SY5Y cells while DJ-1 knocking down (KD) enhanced MAP1b-LC aggregation in SH-SY5Y cells. The increase in insoluble MAP1b-LC was also observed in the DJ-1 null mice brain. Moreover, in the DJ-1 KD SH-SY5Y cells, overexpression of MAP1B-LC led to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that DJ-1 acts as a molecular chaperone to inhibit MAP1B aggregation thus leading to neuronal apoptosis. Our study provides a novel insight into the mechanisms that underly the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD).
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases & key Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Institute of Health Science, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Science & Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China. jqding18@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Zhiquan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qianqian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Yuyan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Xinyi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Jianqing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Shengdi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen