D.N. Wojewska, MSc

Biochemical and structural characterization of LRRK2

LRRK2 (leucine-rich repeat kinase 2) is currently the main genetic cause of Parkinson's Disease (PD) worldwide. Despite significant advancement of the field in the recent years, numerouos questions regarding LRRK2 activation mechanism, its detailed structure and the effect of PD mutations are still not answered. 

Project goals:

• structural characterization of LRRK2 and its domains (especially 2 enzymatic functions, GTPase and the kinase),
• kinetic studies and the effect of PD mutants on the activation cycle,
• development of a structural surrogate kinase model in order to improve exsisting LRRK2 kinase inhibitors.

This project is realized within the Micheal J. Fox Foundation, in collaboration with Xiaoujan Zhang and Franz Ho.

https://www.michaeljfox.org/grant/design-and-identification-lrrk2-kinase-structural-surrogate