Abstract 1267 Effects of the Parkinson's-Causing Toxin, MPP+, on mtDNA Replication

Parkinson's disease is a prominent neurodegenerative disorder resulting from the degradation of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Although the disease can be associated with certain genetic mutations, familial Parkinson's disease constitutes only about 10% of all cases. Thus, the molecular processes of Parkinson's pathogenesis remain poorly understood. While aging is considered the major risk factor, its causative relationship with the disease remains unknown. The accumulation of damage to the mitochondrial genome is a hallmark of aging tissues, and the same type of damage has been observed to occur with a high frequency in dopaminergic neurons of individuals affected by Parkinson's disease.