Genetic Screening and Functional Analysis of Factors Regulating Dopaminergic Development and Survival in C. elegans and mammalian systems

Specialized brains cells which produce the chemical signal dopamine degenerate in PD. We believe that genes which control development of these brain cells may be candidates for susceptibility to PD. To find these potential factors, we propose to utilize the power of worm genetics. By randomly mutating the genetic makeup of worms we can then determine which of the genes are important for dopaminergic development. This will allow us to select gene candidates for dopamine development in higher animals and in development of PD.