They identified an abnormal gene on chromosome-6. Parkin, like the related protein, ubiquitin, is a scavenger protein. Parkin, like ubiquitin, accumulates in Lewy bodies in YOPD and adult-onset PD patients. Alpha-synuclein, unlike parkin and ubiquitin, isn't a scavenger. Alpha-synuclein's final destination is the synaptic vesicles, granular particles that store chemicals.
Dopamine is stored on synaptic vesicles.
The accumulation occurs in Lewy bodies and is associated with deposits of parkin and ubiquitin. This may be the situation in the large Italian family, the Contursi family, described by Drs. Duvoisin and Golbe. Alpha-synuclein and ubiquitin also accumulate on the plaques that occur in Alzheimer's disease. DRD manifests itself before age 10 years.