Two-Pore Channels and Parkinson's Disease: Where's the Link?

Two-pore channels are endolysosomal Ca(2+) release channels involved in proper trafficking to and from those organelles. They are the likely targets for the Ca(2+)-mobilizing messenger NAADP, and are further regulated by a variety of mechanisms including phosphoinositide levels and Rab proteins. As discussed here, recent studies highlight a role for these channels in the pathomechanism(s) underlying Parkinson's disease, with important implications for possible alternative treatment strategies.