Findings indicate that activation of Nurr1 may be therapeutically useful for Parkinson's disease patients; therefore, the mice would be useful in Parkinson's disease research.

The researchers have generated Nurr1-knockout mice via genomic locus inactivation using homologous recombination. Transcription factor Nurr1 is an obligatory factor for neurotransmitter dopamine biosynthesis in ventral midbrain. From a neurological and clinical perspective, it suggests an entirely new mechanism for dopamine depletion in a region where dopamine is known to be involved in Parkinson's disease. Activation of Nurr1 may be therapeutically useful for Parkinson's disease patients; therefore, the mice would be useful in Parkinson's disease research. Additionally, Nurr1 has been shown to be critical for development of midbrain dopaminergic neurons, and thus may contribute to stem cell-based therapies for neurological disorders. Nurr1 is also important for osteoblast differentiation, suggesting a general role in stem cell differentiation and growth. Applications: - Research and drug testing for Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders - Stem cell research relating to neurological and other disorders and bone formation Relevant Publication: SO Castillo, JS Baffi, M Palkovits, DS Goldstein, IJ Kopin, J Witta, MA Magnuson, VM Nikodem. Dopamine biosynthesis is selectively abolished in substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area but not in hypothalamic neurons in mice with targeted disruption of the Nurr1 gene. Mol Cell Neurosci. 1998 May, 11(1-2):36-46. Related Publications: 1. MK Lee, H Choi, M Gil, VM Nikodem. Regulation of osteoblast differentiation by Nurr1 in MC3T3-E1 cell line and mouse calvarial osteoblasts. J Cell Biochem. 2006 June 1 [Epub ahead of print, doi:10.1002/jcb.20990]. 2. J Jankovic, S Chen, WD Le. The role of Nurr1 in the development of dopaminergic neurons and Parkinson's disease. Prog Neurobiol. 2005 Sep-Oct, 77(1-2):128-138. Epub 2005 Oct 21, doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2005.09.001.

HHS Reference No. E-024-1999/0 -- Research Tool Inventor: Dr. Vera Nikodem (NIDDK)

Licensees sought: This technology is available under a Biological Materials License.