Sci Transl Med 13 July 2011:
Vol. 3, Issue 91, p. 91ps28
DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3002808
Perspective
Parkinson's Disease
A Lysosomal Lair for a Pathogenic Protein Pair
Ted M. Dawson1,2,3,4,* and
Valina L. Dawson1,2,3,4,5,*

E-mail: tdawson@jhmi.edu (T.M.D.) or vdawson@jhmi.edu (V.L.D.).
Abstract

http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/3/91/91ps28.abstract

... Although many of the causes of PD remain unclear, a consistent finding is the abnormal accumulation of the protein α-synuclein... Mazzuli et al. provide a molecular explanation for the unexpected link between PD and Gaucher's disease, a glycolipid lysosomal storage disorder caused by loss of the enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GBA). They report a reciprocal connection between loss of GBA activity and the accumulation of α-synuclein in lysosomes that establishes a bidirectional positive feedback loop with pathogenic consequences...
Footnotes
Citation: T. M. Dawson, V. L. Dawson, A Lysosomal Lair for a Pathogenic Protein Pair. Sci. Transl. Med. 3, 91ps28 (2011).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glucocerebrosidase

lysosome

http://www.beyondbooks.com/lif71/4f.asp

adding that this is a great site!

here's the search:
what are lysosomes responsible for

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=lys...at&fr=ans_qp_2

what are lysosome storage disorders?
http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=...op&fr=ans_qp_2

Paula,
found this link on your search list to be very interesting, especially the sentence regarding platelets and hypopigmentation:

http://www.bscb.org/?url=softcell/lysosome

Lindy

from a former posting
genetic disorder provides unique insight into Parkinson's disease

Pathway disrupted in Gaucher disease affects Parkinson's-associated protein deposits, suggests novel therapeutic strategy

Massachusetts General Hospital investigators appear to have found the mechanism behind a previously reported link between the rare genetic condition Gaucher disease and ...Parkinson's disease ... they describe how disruption of the molecular pathway that causes Gaucher disease leads to the toxic neuronal deposits of the protein alpha-synuclein (α-syn) found in Parkinson's and related disorders. In addition, rising α-syn levels further inhibit the Gaucher's-associated pathway, leading to even more α-syn deposition, a finding that indicates therapies targeting this pathway may be a new option for patients with Parkinson's disease.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releas...-rgd061711.php
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