| First Author | Song L | Year | 2017 |
| Journal | Neurobiol Dis | Volume | 100 |
| Pages | 30-38 | PubMed ID | 28042097 |
| Mgi Jnum | J:259430 | Mgi Id | MGI:6141371 |
| Doi | 10.1016/j.nbd.2016.12.024 | Citation | Song L, et al. (2017) Parkin deficiency accelerates consequences of mitochondrial DNA deletions and Parkinsonism. Neurobiol Dis 100:30-38 |
| abstractText | Parkinson''s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative condition caused by age-related death of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions rise exponentially with age in humans and reach their highest levels approaching 60% in dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra and overlap with dying neurons. Parkin deletion causes Parkinsonism in humans, presumably through a decrease in mitochondrial quality control, but Parkin knockout mice do not have DA neurodegeneration. We crossed Parkin knockouts to the Twinkle-TG mouse in which mtDNA deletions are increased specifically in substantia nigra to determine the effect of increased deletion mutagenesis in the absence of mitochondrial quality control. These double-mutant ''TwinkPark'' mice had 1, the highest mtDNA deletion concentration in SN; 2, the lowest mitochondrial function and membrane potential; 3, the most severe neurobehavioral deficits at 19months; 4, the least dopaminergic neurons in the SN and lowest dopamine levels, i.e. Parkinsonism. This mouse model could provide novel insights into the pathomechanism by which a specific increase in mtDNA deletions with age contribute to dopaminergic neurodegeneration and Parkinson''s disease. |
