The Anthelmintic Drug Niclosamide and Its Analogues Activate the Parkinson's Disease Associated Protein Kinase PINK1. (24th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barini, Erica; Miccoli, Ageo; Tinarelli, Federico; Mulholland, Katie; Kadri, Hachemi; Khanim, Farhat; Stojanovski, Laste; Read, Kevin D.; Burness, Kerry; Blow, Julian J.; Mehellou, Youcef; Muqit, Miratul M. K.
• Is Part Of: Chembiochem. Volume 19:Number 5(2018)
• Page Start: 425
• Page End: 429
• Publication Date: 2018-01-24
• Subjects: drug discovery -- membranes -- mitochondria -- neurodegenerative diseases -- proteins; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Pharmaceutical chemistry -- Periodicals; 572
• DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201700500
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1439-4227

Abstract

Abstract: Mutations in PINK1, which impair its catalytic kinase activity, are causal for autosomal recessive early‐onset Parkinson's disease (PD). Various studies have indicated that the activation of PINK1 could be a useful strategy in treating neurodegenerative diseases, such as PD. Herein, it is shown that the anthelmintic drug niclosamide and its analogues are capable of activating PINK1 in cells through the reversible impairment of the mitochondrial membrane potential. With these compounds, for the first time, it is demonstrated that the PINK1 pathway is active and detectable in primary neurons. These findings suggest that niclosamide and its analogues are robust compounds for the study of the PINK1 pathway and may hold promise as a therapeutic strategy in PD and related disorders. Abstract : Pathway detection : Catalytically impaired PINK1 causes autosomal recessive early‐onset Parkinson's disease. Niclosamide and its analogues activate PINK1 through reversible impairment of the mitochondrial membrane potential. With these compounds, for the first time, it is demonstrated that the PINK1 pathway is active and detectable in primary neurons (see figure). The reported compounds are thus robust tools for studying PINK1 signalling.