Immunohistochemical and subcellular localization of Parkin protein: absence of protein in autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism patients

Ann Neurol. 1999 May;45(5):668-72. doi: 10.1002/1531-8249(199905)45:5<668::aid-ana19>3.0.co;2-z.

Abstract

Autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism (AR-JP) is a distinct clinical entity characterized by a selective degeneration of nigral neurons. Recently, the parkin gene responsible for AR-JP has been identified. Now, we report the subcellular localization of Parkin protein in patients with AR-JP or Parkinson's disease (PD) and in controls by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry using antibodies raised against the Parkin molecule. Parkin protein was absent in all regions of the brains of patients with AR-JP. Parkin protein was not decreased in the brains of sporadic PD patients. Immunoreactivity was detected in a few Lewy bodies. Parkin protein was located in both the Golgi complex and cytosol.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Genes, Recessive / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Ligases*
  • Middle Aged
  • Parkinson Disease / genetics*
  • Parkinson Disease / metabolism*
  • Proteins / analysis*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases*

Substances

  • Proteins
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • parkin protein
  • Ligases