Parkin is a protein that causes an early onset form of Parkinism, termed Autosomal Recessive Juvenile Parkinsonism. We are currently determining how presenilins carry out their dual function of regulating signal transduction and -amyloid production. We are exploring strategies for treating neurodegenerative disorders by using recombinant viral vectors capable of expressing these agents to intervene in the PCD or -amyloid pathways. The approach followed in my laboratory is to over-express or inactivate particular genes in cultured cells to produce strong responses from the target genes. Then we study the biology of the cellular responses to these genes first in the cell lines and, subsequently, in brain tissue.
Arrows point to some of the labeled inclusions.
These are cells stably transfected with pcDNA3 with an empty cassette. They are transiently transfected with pcDNA3 carrying an empty cassette and then subjected to trophic deprivation. This is essentially the negative control. These are cells stably tranfected with APP717, a mutant form of amyloid precursor protein having a phenylalanine substituted for a valine at position 717. The cells were then transfected with pcDNA3 carrying an empty cassette and then subject to trophic deprivation.