The ubiquitin–proteasome pathway in Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases

• Published in: Trends in cell biology Vol. 14; no. 12; pp. 703 - 711
• Main Authors: Ross, Christopher A., Pickart, Cecile M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2004
• Subjects: Animals; Humans; Models, Biological; Mutation; Neurodegenerative Diseases - genetics; Neurodegenerative Diseases - metabolism; Neurodegenerative Diseases - physiopathology; Parkinson Disease - genetics; Parkinson Disease - metabolism; Parkinson Disease - physiopathology; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex - genetics; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex - metabolism; Ubiquitin - genetics; Ubiquitin - metabolism
• ISSN: 0962-8924; 1879-3088
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2004.10.006

During the past decade, it has become apparent that a set of ostensibly unrelated neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease, shares striking molecular and cell biology commonalities. Each of the diseases involves protein misfolding and aggregation, resulting in inclusion bodies and other aggregates within cells. These aggregates often contain ubiquitin, which is the signal for proteolysis by the 26S proteasome, and chaperone proteins that are involved in the refolding of misfolded proteins. The link between the ubiquitin–proteasome system and neurodegeneration has been strengthened by the identification of disease-causing mutations in genes coding for several ubiquitin–proteasome pathway proteins in Parkinson's disease. However, the exact molecular connections between these systems and pathogenesis remain uncertain and controversial. In this article, we summarize the state of current knowledge, focusing on important unresolved questions.