Overview:

LRRK2 or leucine-rich repeat kinase is a protein with an ankryin repeat region, a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain, a kinase domain, a DFG-like motif, a RAS domain, a GTPase domain, a MLK-like domain, and a WD40 domain. Mutations in LRRK2 are the most frequent known cause of autosomal dominant and idiopathic Parkinson's disease with prevalent mutations being found within the GTPase and kinase domains (1). LRRK2 cooperates with MET to promote efficient tumor cell growth and survival in various cancers. Down-regulation of LRRK2 in cultured tumor cells compromises MET activation and selectively reduces downstream MET signaling to mTOR and STAT3 (2).

Gene Aliases:

PARK8; RIPK7; ROCO2; AURA17; DARDARIN

Genbank Number:

NM_198578

References:

1. Yao C, LRRK2-mediated neurodegeneration and dysfunction of dopaminergic neurons in a Caenorhabditis elegans model of Parkinson's disease. Neurobiol Dis. 2010 Oct;40(1):73-81.

2. Looyenga BD, Chromosomal amplification of leucine-rich repeat kinase-2 (LRRK2) is required for oncogenic MET signaling in papillary renal and thyroid carcinomas. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Jan 25;108(4):1439-44