Abstract:

PARK7/DJ-1 is a multifunctional protein that acts as a regulator in stress responsive cascades. Since its original discovery as a novel oncogene, DJ-1 was further implicated in the correspondingly dubbed PARK7 autosomal recessive early onset Parkinson’s Disease variant, expanding the spectrum of its pathophysiology to neurodegenerative disease. DJ-1’s physiological roles have correspondingly expanded in the literature, effectively revealing an almost ubiquitous presence in cellular compartments and tissues.DJ-1’s functions mediate a diverse armamentarium of cytoprotective effects such as RNA binding, SUMOylation, androgen receptor binding, and regulation of mitochondrial dynamics as well as a recently discovered deglycase activity.