Our data indicate that ATP13A2 is the first PD-associated gene involved in exosome biogenesis and indicates a potential neuroprotective role of exosomes in PD.
Here we review current knowledge about the ATP13A2 gene, clinical characteristics of patients with PD-associated ATP13A2 mutations, and models of how the ATP13A2 protein may help prevent neurodegeneration by inhibiting α-synuclein aggregation and supporting normal lysosomal and mitochondrial function.
Protected Ac-PDEKHEL-NH(2) (PK9-H) and Ac-FCGDGANDCG-NH(2) (PK9-C) peptide fragments corresponding to sequences from residues 1165 to 1171 and 1184 to 1193, respectively, in the Park9 encoded protein from Parkinson's disease gene were tested for their protonation and complex formation capabilities with Cu(II), Zn(II) and Mn(II) ions by potentiometric and UV-Vis measurements.
Conversely, mutations in lysosomal-related genes, such as glucocerebrosidase (GBA) and lysosomal type 5 P-type ATPase (ATP13A2), have been linked to PD.
The molecular investigations of proteins encoded by PD-linked genes have clarified that ADPD is associated with α-synuclein and LRRK2, while ARPD is linked to Parkin, PINK1, DJ1, and ATP13A2.
The SNPs investigated in the BST1, PARK15 and PARK9 genes associated with PD susceptibility are not associated with PD in the northern Han Chinese population.
Sequence or copy number variants in at least six genes (SNCA, LRRK2, PARK2, PINK1, DJ-1 and ATP13A2) have been identified to cause monogenic forms of PD.
These results suggest that ATP13A2p.A746T variant is unlikely to play a role as a common risk factor or a pathogenic mutation for PD at least in Japanese.
Considering the scarcity of studies on GIGYF2, ATP13A2 and GBA mutation frequency in Latin American countries, we present significant data about the contribution of these genes to PD susceptibility.
Using voxel-based morphometry in 30 asymptomatic mutation carriers (MC) with mutations in four different genes for PD and 100 healthy controls, we identified an increase in gray matter volume (GMV) in the striatum in asymptomatic Parkin, PINK1, ATP13A2 and, to a much lesser extent, in LRRK2 MC.
The strongest case for a genetic contribution to PD was made by the discovery of mutations in single genes that can cause autosomal dominant (alpha-synuclein (SNCA)) and leucine rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene) or recessive (Parkin, PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1), DJ-1, and ATP13A2 gene) forms of PD.
Mutations in these genes potentially lead to autosomal dominant (alpha-synuclein and LRRK2), or autosomal recessive PD (Parkin, PINK1, DJ1, and ATP13A2).