# 14-3-3 phosphorylation in Parkinson's disease

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2021 · $397,117

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Two critical proteins linked to Parkinson’s disease (PD) are alpha-synuclein (αsyn) and LRRK2. Mutations in
either gene cause autosomal dominant forms of PD, and GWAS studies have pointed to variants in both genes
as risk factors for developing idiopathic PD. Although both proteins lead to a similar pathological outcome, how
these two proteins cause neuronal injury and how they interact in the disease process are not well understood.
Our key discovery is that 14-3-3θ is a major regulator of both αsyn and LRRK2 and could be the missing link
between αsyn and LRRK2. 14-3-3s are multifunctional, highly expressed brain proteins that act as chaperones,
affect protein trafficking, and modulate enzymatic activity of their binding partners. Our research has highlighted
the role of these critical proteins in PD and their interplay with both αsyn and LRRK2. We have observed that
14-3-3θ acts as a chaperone to reduce αsyn aggregation and cell-to-cell transmission, and this same 14-3-3
isoform reduces the kinase activity and toxicity of mutant LRRK2.
 While our data clearly points to a potentially critical role for 14-3-3 dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease, a key
question that remains is how 14-3-3θ’s endogenous functions could become impaired in PD. We propose that
aberrant phosphorylation of 14-3-3θ is the critical pathophysiologic event, and that increases in 14-3-3θ
phosphorylation promotes LRRK2 and αsyn effects in disease. In support of this hypothesis, we recently
published data showing that 14-3-3θ phosphorylation at S232 is dramatically elevated in the detergent-insoluble
fractions from human PD and DLB brains. This increase in S232 phosphorylation correlates with cognitive
decline and pathological severity measures, consistent with a role of S232 phosphorylation in the pathogenesis
of neurodegeneration. In addition, we have observed that mitochondrial stress promotes 14-3-3θ
phosphorylation at S232 in culture. The S232D phosphomimetic mutant loses its protective effects in neurotoxin
and αsyn culture models.
 Based on these data, we hypothesize that oxidative stress is a key upstream inducer of excessive 14-3-3θ
phosphorylation, leading to αsyn and LRRK2 toxicity. We recently created a conditional knock-in (KI) 14-3-3θ
S232D mouse line that will serve as the critical tool to understand the impact of 14-3-3 phosphorylation in PD.
In Aim 1, we will test how 14-3-3θ phosphorylation alters interactions with αsyn and modulates subsequent αsyn
pathology. In Aim 2, we will test the impact of 14-3-3 phosphorylation on its interaction with LRRK2 and LRRK2
function. In Aim 3, we will examine whether 14-3-3θ phosphorylation occurs early in sporadic PD and whether
oxidative stress mediates toxicity via excessive 14-3-3 phosphorylation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10199080
- **Project number:** 5R01NS112203-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Talene Alene Yacoubian
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $397,117
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-15 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10199080

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10199080, 14-3-3 phosphorylation in Parkinson's disease (5R01NS112203-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10199080. Licensed CC0.

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