• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.177-184
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• 2019

Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are the most common genetic cause of Parkinson's disease (PD). LRRK2 contains a functional kinase and GTPase domains. A pathogenic G2019S mutation that is the most prevalent among the LRRK2 mutations and is also found in sporadic cases, increases its kinase activity. Therefore, identification of LRRK2 kinase substrates and the development of kinase inhibitors are under intensive investigation to find PD therapeutics. Several recent studies have suggested members of Rab proteins, a branch of the GTPase superfamily, as LRRK2 kinase substrates. Rab proteins are key regulators of cellular vesicle trafficking. Among more than 60 members of human Rab proteins, Rab3, Rab5, Rab8, Rab10, Rab12, Rab29, Rab35, and Rab43 have been identified as LRRK2 kinase substrates. However, most studies have used human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cells overexpressing LRRK2/Rab proteins or murine embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells which are not relevant to PD, rather than neuronal cells. In this study, we tested whether Rab proteins are phosphorylated by LRRK2 in astroglia in addition to neurons. Among the various Rab substrates, we tested phosphorylation of Rab10, because of the commercial availability and credibility of the phospho-Rab10 (pRab10) antibody, in combination with a specific LRRK2 kinase inhibitor. Based on the results of specific LRRK2 kinase inhibitor treatment, we concluded that LRRK2 phosphorylates Rab10 in the tested brain cells such as primary neurons, astrocytes and BV2 microglial cells.

• BMB Reports
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.233-244
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• 2010

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, and 5-10% of the PD cases are genetically inherited as familial PD (FPD). LRRK2 (leucine-rich repeat kinase 2) was first reported in 2004 as a gene corresponding to PARK8, an autosomal gene whose dominant mutations cause familial PD. LRRK2 contains both active kinase and GTPase domains as well as protein-protein interaction motifs such as LRR (leucine-rich repeat) and WD40. Most pathogenic LRRK2 mutations are located in either the GTPase or kinase domain, implying important roles for the enzymatic activities in PD pathogenic mechanisms. In comparison to other PD causative genes such as parkin and PINK1, LRRK2 exhibits two important features. One is that LRRK2's mutations (especially the G2019S mutation) were observed in sporadic as well as familial PD patients. Another is that, among the various PD-causing genes, pathological characteristics observed in patients carrying LRRK2 mutations are the most similar to patients with sporadic PD. Because of these two observations, LRRK2 has been intensively investigated for its pathogenic mechanism (s) and as a target gene for PD therapeutics. In this review, the general biochemical and molecular features of LRRK2, the recent results of LRRK2 studies and LRRK2's therapeutic potential as a PD target gene will be discussed.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.170-175
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• 2018

파킨슨병은 두번째로 많이 발병하는 퇴행성 신경질환이며 약 5-10%는 유전된다. Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2(LRRK2)는 그 돌연변이의 일부가 파킨슨병을 일으키는 유전자이다. LRRK2에는 인산화효소와 GTPase 기능이 있는 도메인과 함께 단백질 상호작용에 관여하는 Leucine-rich repeat (LRR), WD40 도메인이 존재하여, LRRK2와 상호작용하는 단백질이 파킨슨병 발병에 중요한 역할을 함을 암시한다. 우리는 이러한 LRRK2와 상호작용하는 단백질을 규명하여 그 단백질의 세포내 기능을 통해 역으로 LRRK2의 기능을 밝히고자 하였다. NIH3T3 세포 용해물을 LRRK2 항체와 IgG로 각각 면역침강하여 LRRK2 항체 침강반응에서만 특이적으로 나타나는 단백질 밴드를 질량 분석한 결과, methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MRS)로 나타났다. LRRK2와 MRS의 상호작용은 면역침강반응과 GST-pull down assay를 통해 확인됐다. 병을 유발하는, LRRK2의 돌연변이인 G2019S가 인산화효소 활성을 증가시키므로 LRRK2가 MRS를 인산화하는 지를 조사한 결과, LRRK2재조합단백질은 MRS 단백질을 인산화 하지 않았다. 또한 이들 두 단백질의 각각의 양 증가가 상대 단백질의 양 증가, 즉 안정성에 영향을 미치는 지를 조사하였으나 안정성의 변화를 관찰하지 못하였다. 결론적으로, MRS는 LRRK2와 상호작용을 하지만 LRRK2 인산화효소의 기질은 아니다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제48권5호
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• pp.243-248
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• 2015

Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are the most common cause of familial Parkinson's disease (PD). As such, functions and dysfunctions of LRRK2 in PD have been the subject of extensive investigation. In addition to PD, increasing evidence is suggesting that LRRK2 is associated with a wide range of diseases. Genome-wide association studies have implicated LRRK2 in Crohn's disease (CD) and leprosy, and the carriers with pathogenic mutations of LRRK2 show increased risk to develop particular types of cancer. LRRK2 mutations are rarely found in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but LRRK2 might play a part in tauopathies. The association of LRRK2 with the pathogenesis of apparently unrelated diseases remains enigmatic, but it might be related to the yet unknown diverse functions of LRRK2. Here, we reviewed current knowledge on the link between LRRK2 and several diseases, including PD, AD, CD, leprosy, and cancer, and discussed the possibility of targeting LRRK2 in such diseases. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(5): 243-248]

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제55권2호
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• pp.105-112
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• 2023

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2)는 파킨슨병과 같은 신경퇴행성 질환의 병태생리학적인 측면에서 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려져 있고 주로 뇌뿐만 아니라 폐에서도 발현된다. 그러나 LRRK2 발현이 폐 편평세포암(lung squamous cell carcinoma, LUSC)과 같은 일반적인 폐암의 아형과 병인성이 있는지는 불분명하다. 본 연구에서는 Kaplan Meier 플로터 생물정보학 온라인 도구를 사용하여 폐 편평세포암종 내에서 LRRK2와의 예후 진단가치를 분석하였다. 폐 편평세포암종 환자는 LRRK2의 발현이 높아지면 더 나쁜 예후를 나타낸다고 알려져 왔다. LRRK2 발현이 높은 환자의 경우 종양 돌연변이 부담, 높은 신항원부하, 더 나쁜 생존율, 성별과 상관관계를 보였다. 더욱이, gene expression profiling interactive analysis 데이터분석에서 높은 LRRK2 발현을 가진 환자에서의 심각한 증상은 항염증성 사이토카인(예, IL-4, IL-10)의 높은 발현에 양의 상관관계를 보였지만 염증성 사이토카인은 상관성이 없었다. 이러한 결과에서 IL-10관련 유전자의 높은 발현은 더 나쁜 예후를 보이는 LRRK2-high 환자들에서 유의미하게 연관성을 보였다. 또한, tumor immunity estimation resource 데이터는 큰포식세포가 LRRK2-high LUSC환자에서 IL-10의 기원세포 중 하나임을 보여주었다. 본 연구를 통해 결과적으로 LRRK2-IL10 축의 가설이 LUSC 환자의 잠재적이 치료 표적과 예후 바이오 마커일 수 있음을 보여주었다.

• 통합자연과학논문집
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2016

Leucine rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is a highly promising target for Parkinson's disease (PD) that affects millions of people worldwide. A three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) analysis was performed on a series of pyrrolopyrimidine-based selective LRRK2 kinase inhibitors. This study was performed to rationalize the structural requirements responsible for the inhibitory activity of these compounds. A reliable 3D-QSAR model was developed using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) technique. The model produced statistically acceptable results with a cross-validated correlation coefficient ($q^2$) of 0.539 and a non-cross-validated correlation coefficient ($r^2$) of 0.871. Robustness of the model was further evaluated by bootstrapping and progressive scrambling analysis. This work could assist in designing more potent LRRK2 inhibitors.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.319-329
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• 2024

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2), a large GTP-regulated serine/threonine kinase, is well-known for its mutations causing late-onset Parkinson's disease. However, the role of LRRK2 in glioblastoma (GBM) carcinogenesis has not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we discovered that LRRK2 was overexpressed in 40% of GBM patients, according to tissue microarray analysis, and high LRRK2 expression correlated with poor prognosis in GBM patients. LRRK2 and stemness factors were highly expressed in various patient-derived GBM stem cells, which are responsible for GBM initiation. Canonical serum-induced differentiation decreased the expression of both LRRK2 and stemness factors. Given that LRRK2 is a key regulator of glioma stem cell (GSC) stemness, we developed DNK72, a novel LRRK2 kinase inhibitor that penetrates the blood-brain barrier. DNK72 binds to the phosphorylation sites of active LRRK2 and dramatically reduced cell proliferation and stemness factors expression in in vitro studies. Orthotopic patient-derived xenograft mouse models demonstrated that LRRK2 inhibition with DNK72 effectively reduced tumor growth and increased survival time. We propose that LRRK2 plays a significant role in regulating the stemness of GSCs and that suppression of LRRK2 kinase activity leads to reduced GBM malignancy and proliferation. In the near future, targeting LRRK2 in patients with high LRRK2-expressing GBM could offer a superior therapeutic strategy and potentially replace current clinical treatment methods.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.47-50
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• 2020

Recently, decades of robust researches on degenerative brain disorder have been highlighted on the interactive connection of gut and brain. In terms of inflammatory cytokine production, others have shown that Nucleotide-Binding Oligomerization Domain Containing 2 (NOD2) is involved with Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2 (LRRK2). HEK293T cells were transiently co-transfected with Myc-tagged LRRK2 and Flag-tagged NOD2 and then followed by co-immunoprecipitation assay. In this study, we provide the novel finding of physical protein-protein interaction between NOD2 and LRRK2. G2019S variant has shown stronger interactions against NOD2 than those of wild type LRRK2. In an axis of NOD2-LRRK2 communication, it is believed to pave a new way in the understanding of the bidirectional molecular mechanism of brain disorder, including Parkinson's disease into gut inflammatory disease, including Crohn's disease.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.182-186
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• 2021

Parkinson disease (PD) is becoming one of the most neurodegenerative disorder worldwide. The deposited aggregates have been connected in the pathophysiology of PD, which are degraded either by ubiquitin-proteasomal system (UPS) or autophagy-lysosomal pathway (ALP). Leucin-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2), one of the neurodegenerative proteins of PD is also stringently controlled by both UPS and ALP degradation as well. However, the polyubiquitination pattern of LRRK2 aggregates is largely unknown. Here, we found that K63-linked polyubiquitinations of G2019S mutant, most familial variant for PD, is highly enhanced compared to those of wild type LRRK2 (WT). In addition, in the presence of overexpressed p62/SQSTM-1, ubiquitination of LRRK2 WT or D1994A was reduced, whereas G2019S mutant was not diminished significantly. Therefore, we propose that degradation of G2019S via UPS is more involved with K63-linked ubiquitination than K48-linked ubiquitination, and overexpressed p62/SQSTM-1 does not enhance degradative effect on G2019S variant.

• BMB Reports
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• 제52권9호
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• pp.533-539
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• 2019

Recent evidence from genetics, animal model systems and biochemical studies suggests that defects in membrane trafficking play an important part in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) constitute the most frequent genetic cause of both familial and sporadic PD, and LRRK2 has been suggested as a druggable target for PD. Although the precise physiological function of LRRK2 remains largely unknown, mounting evidence suggests that LRRK2 controls membrane trafficking by interacting with key regulators of the endosomal-lysosomal pathway and synaptic recycling. In this review, we discuss the genetic, biochemical and functional links between LRRK2 and membrane trafficking. Understanding the mechanism by which LRRK2 influences such processes may contribute to the development of disease-modifying therapies for PD.