Identification of a Protein-Interaction Network within the Manganese-affected and Non-affected Molecular Pathways of Parkinson’s Disease
Mabel N. Abraham, St. John’s University Student
Marc E. Gillespie, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions
Abstract: Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease affecting almost a million people in the United States. Close to 50% of neuronal death, specifically the dopaminergic neurons, occurs before patients are diagnosed with the disease, due to the decline of motor activity. Only post-mortem studies can confirm the presence of Lewy bodies and plaque formation that is characteristic in those with the disease. No specific diagnostic or clinical tests exist as a definitive measure of the presence or severity of the disease. There is a great need for biomarkers indicative of Parkinson’s and other similar neurodegenerative diseases. Biomarkers benefit clinicians to make early diagnosis and treatment possible. Cause and effect is extremely challenging to assign even now after two decades of research. The disease involves not only neurologic pathology but also psychological deficits that may easily be misinterpreted for other neurologic illness. The knowledge of molecular pathways will add to our greater understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease. The environmental hazard of exposure Manganese(Mn) can similarly result in irreversible brain disease characterized by extrapyramidal signs and symptoms resembling Parkinson’s disease. Mn-induced parkinsonism is referred to as ‘manganism.’ The data attained with use of toxicoproteomic tools, such as the yeast-two-hybrid screen and microarray will assist researchers in understanding the disease process, of both Manganism and Parkinson’s. The possibility the two disease protein interaction networks may overlap has great potential for identifying possible targets for drug discovery.