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PARKINSON'S DISEASE NEWS 26th November 2008 - New research Source: Viartis THE ROLE OF THE PARKIN GENE IN WORSENING PARKINSON'S DISEASE Journal of Cell Biology [2008] Nov 24. [Epub ahead of print] (Narendra D, Tanaka A, Suen DF, Youle RJ.) Complete abstract The primary fault in Parkinson's Disease is the insufficient formation of dopamine. When dopamine fails to form properly the highly damaging superoxide anion is formed instead. For more information go to the Biochemistry of Parkinson's Disease under Cell Damage. This can cause further deterioration in Parkinson's Disease. Although cell damage is widely claimed to cause Parkinson's Disease, it is more accurate to say that Parkinson's Disease can cause cell damage that can worsen already existing Parkinson's Disease. Cell damage perpetuates far more when there is a genetic lack of the Parkin gene. Those people with this genetic disorder are consequently known to be more susceptible to developing Parkinson's Disease than any of the various genetic causes of Parkinson's Disease. It makes Parkinson's Disease more likely rather than inevitable. Parkin is known to help rid damaged elements in the cells involved in Parkinson's Disease. Although the role of Parkin in cell maintenance was unknown, recent work has linked Parkin to the regulation of mitochondria. The mitochondria is the energy producing part of cells. New research has shown that the Parkin gene is selectively involved in getting rid of dysfunctional mitochondria after it has been damaged due to Parkinson's Disease. Parkin mediates the engulfment of mitochondria, and then its elimination. When this fails to occur, as it does in the Parkin form of genetic Parkinson's Disease, damaged elements within the nerve cells accumulate and cause the functioning of those nerve cells to deteriorate even further. Rayilyn Brown Director AZNPF Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn