Calmodulin and Its Binding Proteins in Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that manifests with rest tremor, muscle rigidity and movement disturbances. At the microscopic level it is characterized by formation of specific intraneuronal inclusions, called Lewy bodies (LBs), and by a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the striatum and substantia nigra. All living cells, among them neurons, rely on Ca(2+) as a universal carrier of extracellular and intracellular signals that can initiate and control various cellular processes. Disturbances in Ca(2+) homeostasis and dysfunction of Ca(2+) signaling pathways may have serious consequences on cells and even result in cell death. Dopaminergic neurons are particularly sensitive to any changes in intracellular Ca(2+) level. The best known and studied Ca(2+) sensor in eukaryotic cells is calmodulin. Calmodulin binds Ca(2+) with high affinity and regulates the activity of a plethora of proteins. In the brain, calmodulin and its binding proteins play a crucial role in regulation of the activity of synaptic proteins and in the maintenance of neuronal plasticity. Thus, any changes in activity of these proteins might be linked to the development and progression of neurodegenerative disorders including PD. This review aims to summarize published results regarding the role of calmodulin and its binding proteins in pathology and pathogenesis of PD.