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SUMMARY:Analysis of Parkinson's disease genes using Drosophila: mitophagy 
 and axonal transport - Professor Alex Whitworth\, University of Sheffield
DTSTART:20140122T150000Z
DTEND:20140122T160000Z
UID:TALK49810@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Penny Peck
DESCRIPTION:Mitochondria are a nexus of life and death of the cell and hav
 e long been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases s
 uch as Parkinson’s disease (PD). Genetic analysis of inherited PD has id
 entified single-gene mutations responsible for rare forms of PD. Understan
 ding the consequence of these mutations can potentially illuminate the pat
 hogenic mechanisms underlying all forms of PD. These mutations can be mode
 lled in genetically tractable model systems\, such as the fruit fly\, Dros
 ophila melanogaster\, which has proven a remarkably informative model.\nLo
 ss of function in parkin and PINK1 cause the majority of early onset PD. I
 t was established using Drosophila that PINK1 and parkin act in a common p
 athway to maintain mitochondrial homeostasis. Mitochondria localised PINK1
  is required to signal parkin translocation to dysfunctional mitochondria 
 where ubiquitination of multiple outer membrane targets\, such as Mitofusi
 ns\, promotes their isolation and degradation by autophagy (mitophagy). In
  neurons\, these mitochondria must also be transported large distances for
  degradation.\nThe inability to properly regulate mitochondrial turnover w
 ill impact on the long-term maintenance of the mitochondrial network and u
 ltimately on neuronal survival\, suggesting a possible pathogenic mechanis
 m for PD\, however\, the physiological in vivo evidence is limited. In add
 ition\, many details of the molecular mechanism and other pathway componen
 ts are unclear. Our work aims to addresses these deficiencies using Drosop
 hila as a model system.
LOCATION:Sackler Lecture Theatre (Level 7) Wellcome Trust/MRC Building\, A
 ddenbrooke's Site
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