NIH Research Matters September 12, 2011 Parkinsonís Protein May
Regulate Fat Metabolism New research reveals that Parkin, a
protein linked to some cases of early-onset Parkinson's disease,
regulates how cells in our bodies take up and process dietary
fats. The finding suggests that defective Parkin may contribute
to early-onset Parkinson's by changing the amount and types of
fat in the body. Parkinson's disease, a complex, progressive and
currently incurable neurological disorder, is characterized by
shaking, stiffness, slowed movement and impaired balance. While
it primarily affects people over 50, 5-10% of cases are early-
onset Parkinson's, occurring in people as young as their 20s.
Mutations in the gene for Parkin are present in as many as 37%
of early-onset Parkinson's cases. The protein appears to play a
role in marking proteins for recycling within the cell. However,
its complex structure and other lines of evidence hint at other
functions. Some studies have tied lower levels of cholesterol
and fatty ac