Science Source

Fungal-derived semiochemical 1-octen-3-ol disrupts dopamine packaging and causes neurodegeneration

States that Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common movement disorder and, although the exact causes are unknown, recent epidemiological and experimental studies indicate that several environmental agents may be significant risk factors
States that to date, these suspected environmental risk factors have been man-made chemicals
Demonstrates via genetic, biochemical, and immunological studies that the common volatile fungal semiochemical 1-octen-3-ol reduces dopamine levels and causes dopamine neuron degeneration in common fruit flies
Finds that mutations decreasing expression of the vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT) and tyrosine hydroxylase exacerbated toxicity
Finds that furthermore, 1-octen-3-ol also inhibited uptake of dopamine in human cell lines expressing the human plasma membrane dopamine transporter and human VMAT ortholog, VMAT2
Data show that 1-octen-3-ol exerts toxicity via disruption of dopamine homeostasis and may represent a naturally occurring environmental agent involved in parkinsonism