Frederick C Nucifora, Leslie G Nucifora, Chee-Hoe Ng, Nicolas Arbez, Yajuan Guo, Elaine Roby, Vered Shani, Simone Engelender, Dong Wei, Xiao-Fang Wang, Tianxia Li, Darren J Moore, Olga Pletnikova, Juan C Troncoso, Akira Sawa, Ted M Dawson, Wanli Smith, Kah-Leong Lim, Christopher A Ross
A common genetic form of Parkinson's disease (PD) is caused by mutations in LRRK2. We identify WSB1 as a LRRK2 interacting protein. WSB1 ubiquitinates LRRK2 through K27 and K29 linkage chains, leading to LRRK2 aggregation and neuronal protection in primary neurons and a Drosophila model of G2019S LRRK2. Knocking down endogenous WSB1 exacerbates mutant LRRK2 neuronal toxicity in neurons and the Drosophila model, indicating a role for endogenous WSB1 in modulating LRRK2 cell toxicity. WSB1 is in Lewy bodies in human PD post-mortem tissue...
June 7, 2016: Nature Communications