Anti-Parkin Antibody

Parkinson's disease is a common neurodegenerative disease with complex clinical features. Mutations in the gene, Parkin (PARK2), appear to be responsible for the pathogenesis of autosomal recessive juvenile Parkinsonism. Parkin plays a role in the ubiquitin-mediated proteolytic pathway by removal and/or detoxification of abnormally folded or damaged protein. Loss of this ubiquitin ligase activity appears to be the mechanism underlying pathogenesis of Parkin. Parkin may protect neurons against alpha synuclein toxicity, proteasomal dysfunction, gpr37 accumulation, and kainate-induced excitotoxicity. It may play a role in controlling neurotransmitter trafficking at the presynaptic terminal and in calcium-dependent exocytosis. Parkin also regulates cyclin e during neuronal apoptosis and may represent a tumor suppressor gene.