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Access through your institution Buy or subscribe Haque _et al_. tested the role of PINK1 in the neuron loss that is caused by exposure to MPTP and its metabolite MPP+ (a mitochondrial
toxin), both of which are used to generate animal models of PD. The authors used small interfering RNA to downregulate _Pink1_ expression in mouse primary neurons, and showed that this
reduced neuronal survival in the presence of MPP+. Conversely, _Pink1_ overexpression had a protective effect. This required PINK1's kinase activity, as a mutant PINK1 in which the
kinase activity was abolished was not protective. Interestingly, a PINK1 mutant lacking the putative mitochondrial targeting motif also protected neurons from MPP+ toxicity, indicating that
targeting to the mitochondria is not required for the protective effect. PINK1 had similar actions _in vivo_: overexpression of wild-type _Pink1_ in the substantia nigra protected dopamine
neurons against the neurotoxic effects of MPTP injections. Again, this required PINK1's kinase activity but not the mitochondrial targeting motif, indicating that PINK1 might act in the
cytoplasm. This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ACCESS OPTIONS Access through your institution Subscribe to this journal Receive 12 print issues and online
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are calculated during checkout ADDITIONAL ACCESS OPTIONS: * Log in * Learn about institutional subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPERS * Poole, A.
C. et al. The PINK1/Parkin pathway regulates mitochondrial morphology. _Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA_ 105, 1638–1643 (2008) Article CAS Google Scholar * Haque, M. E. et al. Cytoplasmic Pink1
activity protects neurons from dopaminergic neurotoxin MPTP. _Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA_ 105, 1716–1721 (2008) Article CAS Google Scholar Download references Authors * Leonie Welberg
View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Welberg, L. In the
PINK. _Nat Rev Neurosci_ 9, 167 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2343 Download citation * Issue Date: March 2008 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2343 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share
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