Grant: Operating Grant

Parkinsons disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by loss of specialized brain cells which produce the brain molecule dopamine. Loss of these cells results in impaired movement which is one of the significant, although not exclusive, symptoms of the disease. Recent efforts in this field have focused on understanding the regulatory processes which control this type of death. We have recently shown that a specific protease called calpains may participate in this process. The present research is geared towards determining the causal nature of calpains in this process and determining how calpains mediate this degeneration. In understanding these pathways, we hope to, not only gain an appreciation for an important basic biological process, but also devise therapeutic strategies to treat Parkinsons disease.