mtDNA clock runs out for dopaminergic neurons.

Manfredi, Giovanni

New studies indicate that damage to the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) accumulates with age, specifically in the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra implicated in Parkinson disease. These findings suggest that mtDNA damage is important in the decay of dopaminergic neurons in aging and in Parkinson disease, resulting in loss of mitochondrial function and, ultimately, neuronal death.

DOPAMINERGIC neurons; PARKINSON'S disease; MITOCHONDRIAL DNA abnormalities; MITOCHONDRIAL pathology; SUBSTANTIA nigra

Nature Genetics, 2006, Vol 38, Issue 5, p507

1061-4036

Academic Journal

10.1038/ng0506-507