Expression of Pink1 with α-synuclein in the dopaminergic  neurons of Drosophila leads to increases in both lifespan and healthspan.
Overexpression  of the gene coding for α-synuclein has been shown to be an inherited cause of Parkinson disease. Our  laboratory has previously co-expressed the parkin and Pink1 genes  to rescue α-synuclein-induced  phenotypes within a Drosophila model. To further investigate the effect  of Pink1 in this model, we performed longevity and behavioral studies  using several drivers to express the α-synuclein and Pink1 genes.  Our findings showed that overexpression of Pink1 and overexpression of Pink1 with α-synuclein resulted in an increased lifespan when driven with the TH-Gal4 transgene.  This increase in longevity was accompanied by an increased healthspan, as  measured by mobility over time, suggesting that this is an example of improved  functional aging. Our results indicate that, in the dopaminergic cells targeted  by TH-Gal4, increased expression of α-synuclein and Pink1 together  have a synergistic effect, allowing for enhanced protection and increased  survival of the organism.
Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
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AM
Todd
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Staveley
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099202:PTEN-Induced Putative Kinase
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D051844:alpha-Synuclein; C534484:PINK1 protein, Drosophila; D000099202:PTEN-Induced Putative Kinase