Parkinson's disease protein PARK7 prevents metabolite and protein damage caused by a glycolytic metabolite
Isaac P. Heremans, Francesco Caligiore, Isabelle Gerin, Marina Bury, Marilena Lutz, Julie Graff, Vincent Stroobant, Didier Vertommen, Aurelio A. Teleman, Emile Van Schaftingen, Guido T. Bommer
Abstract
Significance Reactive compounds cause cellular damage that is suspected to contribute to aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Oxidative stress and environmental factors likely contribute to this. Here we report that an enzyme mutated in Parkinson’s disease can prevent damage of metabolites and proteins caused by a metabolite from the central pathway of sugar metabolism. Inactivation of this enzyme in model systems, ranging from flies to human cells, leads to the accumulation of a wide range of damaged metabolites and proteins. Thus, this enzyme represents a highly conserved strategy to prevent damage in cells that metabolize sugars. Overall, we discovered a fundamental link between carbohydrate metabolism and a type of cellular damage that might contribute to the development of Parkinson’s disease.