Expression of alpha-synuclein, parkin, and ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 mRNA in human brain: Genes associated with familial Parkinson's disease

Mutations in the alpha-synuclein, parkin, and ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hy drolase L1 (UCH-L1) genes have been linked to some cases of familial Parkin son's disease. To provide insight into how these genes may relate to each o ther and contribute to the pathology of Parkinson's disease, their expressi on was examined in normal human brain. Tissue sections from multiple region s of 11 normal human brains were hybridized with radiolabeled and digoxygen in-labeled cRNA probes for alpha-synuclein, parkin, and UCH-LI mRNA. Expres sion of each of these three genes was predominantly neuronal. alpha-Synucle in and parkin mRNAs were expressed in a restricted number of brain regions, whereas UCH-LI mRNA was more uniformly expressed throughout brain. The mel anin-containing dopamine neurons of the substantia nigra had particularly r obust expression. The expression patterns of alpha-synuclein and parkin mRN As were similar, suggesting that these two proteins may be involved in comm on pathways contributing to the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease.