.... In particular, LRRK2 has been suggested to play roles in cytoskeletal dynamics, synaptic machinery, dopamine homoeostasis and autophagic processes. Our understanding of how these pathways are affected, their contribution towards PD development and their interaction with one another is still incomplete, however...

... of LRRK2 (leucine-rich repeat kinase 2), a protein that mutated represents the main genetic cause of familial PD described to date. Neurotransmission relies on proper presynaptic vesicle trafficking; defects in this process, variation in dopamine flow and alteration of presynaptic plasticity have been...

... characterized by the massive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons projecting to the striatum. In fact, a peculiar aspect of striatal plasticity is the modulation exerted by DA (dopamine) on LTP and LTD. Our understanding of these maladaptive forms of plasticity has mostly come from the electrophysiological...

...Chantal Martin-Soelch The neural substrates of MDD (major depressive disorder) are complex and not yet fully understood. In the present review, I provide a short overview of the findings supporting the hypothesis of a dysfunctional dopamine system in the pathophysiology of depression. Because...

... is usually associated with reward signalling. However, a number of recent studies in our laboratory suggest that the divergence between these two functions of dopamine is not as delineated as it may once have seemed. In these experiments, we have been developing improved behavioural methods for assessing...

...@organon.co.uk 30 7 2004 © 2004 The Biochemical Society 2004 accessory D 1 dopamine interaction receptor Historically, the activation and inhibition of GPCR (G-protein-coupled receptor) function have been a very successful avenue for drug discovery and development. Marketed drugs...

...F.J.S. Lee; F. Liu Considerable evidence has accumulated describing a complex interaction between the dopaminergic and glutamatergic pathways. Efforts to describe the mechanisms underlying this complex interaction have implicated a functional interaction between dopamine and glutamate receptors...