Research article

Dynamic and redundant regulation of LRRK2 and LRRK1 expression

Saskia Biskup¹ , Darren J Moore¹ , Alexis Rea² , Bettina Lorenz-Deperieux³ , Candice E Coombes⁴ , Valina L Dawson¹ , Ted M Dawson¹ and Andrew B West⁵

¹Institute for Cell Engineering and Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA

²Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA

³Institute of Human Genetics, GSF National Research Center for Environment and Health, Munich-Neuherberg, Germany

⁴Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA

⁵Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics and Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA

author email corresponding author email

BMC Neuroscience 2007, 8:102doi:10.1186/1471-2202-8-102

Published:	28 November 2007

Abstract

Background

Mutations within the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene account for a significant proportion of autosomal-dominant and some late-onset sporadic Parkinson's disease. Elucidation of LRRK2 protein function in health and disease provides an opportunity for deciphering molecular pathways important in neurodegeneration. In mammals, LRRK1 and LRRK2 protein comprise a unique family encoding a GTPase domain that controls intrinsic kinase activity. The expression profiles of the murine LRRK proteins have not been fully described and insufficiently characterized antibodies have produced conflicting results in the literature.

Results

Herein, we comprehensively evaluate twenty-one commercially available antibodies to the LRRK2 protein using mouse LRRK2 and human LRRK2 expression vectors, wild-type and LRRK2-null mouse brain lysates and human brain lysates. Eleven antibodies detect over-expressed human LRRK2 while four antibodies detect endogenous human LRRK2. In contrast, two antibodies recognize over-expressed mouse LRRK2 and one antibody detected endogenous mouse LRRK2. LRRK2 protein resides in both soluble and detergent soluble protein fractions. LRRK2 and the related LRRK1 genes encode low levels of expressed mRNA species corresponding to low levels of protein both during development and in adulthood with largely redundant expression profiles.

Conclusion

Despite previously published results, commercially available antibodies generally fail to recognize endogenous mouse LRRK2 protein; however, several antibodies retain the ability to detect over-expressed mouse LRRK2 protein. Over half of the commercially available antibodies tested detect over-expressed human LRRK2 protein and some have sufficient specificity to detect endogenous LRRK2 in human brain. The mammalian LRRK proteins are developmentally regulated in several tissues and coordinated expression suggest possible redundancy in the function between LRRK1 and LRRK2.