June 23 (Fri) 2023, 10:00 - 11: 00 at C700, Lab 3

Speaker:  Prof. Suzanne Pfeffer, Biochemistry at Stanford University School of Medicine

Title:        A kinase and a phosphatase: molecular basis of inherited Parkinson’s disease 

Abstract:  Activating mutations in LRRK2 kinase cause Parkinson’s disease and activated LRRK2 phosphorylates a subset of Rab GTPases.  We have discovered that Rab phosphorylation blocks primary cilia formation in specific neurons and astrocytes in the nigrostriatal circuit that are important for dopaminergic signaling in Parkinson's disease.  This lecture will provide an update on our studies using purified LRRK2 and its counteracting PPM1H phosphatase to understand how the proteins become localized and activated on membrane surfaces.  In addition, work will be presented related to the consequences of LRRK2 mutation for neurons and astrocytes in the dorsal striatum of mice and humans.