British researchers say they have identified a new gene playing a key role in the development of some forms of Parkinson’s disease.
The ATF4 gene acts as a "switch" for genes that control mitochondrial metabolism in neurons, according to the Leicester University scientists.
Variants in two other genes, PINK1 and PARKIN, are already known to cause some forms of the disease because of their role in mitochondrial quality control.
The latest findings, reported in the journal Cell Death and Differentiation, come from a study of a fruit fly model involving animals developing Parkinson’s because of the PINK1 and PARKIN genes.
Researcher Dr Miguel Martins, from the university’s Medical Research Council toxicology unit, said: “When the expression of ATF4 is reduced in flies, expression of these mitochondrial genes drops.
"This drop results in dramatic locomotor defects, decreased lifespan, and dysfunctional mitochondria in the brain.
“Interestingly, when we overexpressed these mitochondrial genes in fly models of Parkinson’s, mitochondrial function was re-established, and neuron loss was avoided.”
dATF4 regulation of mitochondrial folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism is neuroprotective Cell Death and Differentiation 17 February 2017; doi: 10.1038/cdd.2016.158
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