Keynote Presentation: Interplay between LRRK2 protein kinase and Rab GTPases in Parkinson's disease

Autosomal dominant missense mutations that hyperactivate the LRRK2 protein kinase are a common cause of inherited Parkinson’s disease and therapeutic efficacy of LRRK2 inhibitors is being tested in clinical trials. In my presentation I will we discuss the nuts and bolts of our current research that has revealed that LRRK2 phosphorylates a subset of Rab GTPases within their Switch-II motif controlling interaction with a new set of effectors such as RILPL1/2.  I will discuss how mutations in other components linked to Parkinson’s such as  Rab29 and VPS35 activate LRRK2 and promote Rab protein phosphorylation. I will discuss the identification and characterization of a novel PPM family phosphatase member that counteracts LRRK2 signalling by dephosphorylating Rab proteins. I will present data that indicates that the LRRK2 parlog termed LRRK1 also functions as a Rab kinase.  Finally, I will discuss what is known about how LRRK2 regulates ciliogenesis, the endosomal-lysosome system, and immune responses and how this might be linked to Parkinson’s disease.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define the nuts and bolts of the LRRK2 signaling pathway and how it is linked to Parkinson's disease

2. Showcases new approaches that could be exploited to better diagnose and Parkinson's disease