Immunohistochemical and subcellular localization of parkin protein: Absence of protein in autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism patients

TLDR

Autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism is a distinct clinical entity marked by selective degeneration of nigral neurons, and the parkin gene responsible for the disease has recently been identified. The study aims to report the subcellular localization of Parkin protein in AR‑JP and Parkinson's disease patients and controls. This was investigated using immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry with antibodies raised against Parkin. Parkin protein was absent throughout the brains of AR‑JP patients, unchanged in sporadic PD brains, detected in a few Lewy bodies, and localized to both the Golgi complex and cytosol. Ann Neurol 1999;45:668–672.

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. Ann Neurol 1999;45:668–672