ATG7 is an autophagy-associated regulatory gene. Loss of this gene causes rampant neurodegeneration in animals. Also interesting are the other three genes, like GIPC involved in G-protein signaling, PDZ-domain containing protein involved in vesicular trafficking, and F16A11.2 coding for a protein of unknown function. As GIPC is able to interact with DA receptors, its finding in this study is very interesting as it gives rise to the speculation that GIPC serves to modulate a presynaptic protein-coupled pathway that might combat the effects of α-syn misfolding and accumulation through a DA- or DA receptor-regulated manner.

This paper opens up a new shift in the mechanisms that are already known. It deals with a new concept, which is highly discussed in the latest forum of the Parkinson’s disease foundation, too, by Ana Cuervo and her group.

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