Role of the ubiquitin proteasome system in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease(PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder, which is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and the accumulation of the protein (α-synuclein) and formation of Lewy bodies. Although a subject of intense research, the etiology and pathogenesis of PD remains poorly understood. Recently, several lines of evidences have implicated an intimate link between aberrations in the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) and PD pathogenesis. Derangements of the UPS, which normally functions as a type of protein degradation machinery, lead to alterations in protein homeostasis that could conceivably promote the toxic accumulation of proteins detrimental to neuronal survival. Here we review the relationship between UPS and the pathogenesis of PD.