Well-characterized antibodies to efficiently detect and purify LRRK2 protein are a critical need in the Parkinson's Disease (PD) research community. To help accelerate LRRK2 research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF), working with Abcam, has generated unique and high quality LRRK2 rabbit monoclonal antibodies to be widely available for PD research community.

LRRK2 (Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2, dardarin) is a protein kinase belonging to the ROCO family, which is defined by the presence of a ROC (Ras/GTPase of complex proteins) domain and COR (C-terminal of Roc) region. LRRK2 exhibits kinase activity whereby it can undergo autophosphorylation and can phosphorylate generic substrates. In addition, the GTPase domain of LRRK2 can mediate GDP (guanosine-5′-diphosphate)/GTP (guanosine-5′-triphosphate) binding as well as GTP hydrolysis.

LRRK2 is mutated in a significant number of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Mutations in this gene account for 4% of PD, and are observed in 1% of sporadic PD patients. Clinical symptoms of patients carrying PD-associated mutations of LRRK2 are indistinguishable from typical sporadic PD. The spectra of neuropathological features of PARK8 (type 8), the type corresponding to LRRK2, is broad and appears to encompass those associated with other familial PD cases such as PARK1 (alpha-synuclein) and PARK2 (Parkin). Patients with this gene mutation have typical relatively late onset Parkinsonism with features comparable with idiopathic PD; symptoms include asymmetric rest tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity, and a good response to 3,4-dihyroxy-l-phenylalanine (l-DOPA). The pathology of cases with LRRK2 mutations is pleomorphic.

For more characterization data and protocols using this LRRK2 Antibody, please refer to Davies, et al. 2013. Biochemical J 453(1):101-113 [PMID: 23560750].

This product is a recombinant monoclonal antibody, which offers several advantages including:

• - High batch-to-batch consistency and reproducibility
• - Improved sensitivity and specificity
• - Long-term security of supply
• - Animal-free production

Our RabMAb^® technology is a patented hybridoma-based technology for making rabbit monoclonal antibodies. For details on our patents, please refer to RabMAb^® patents.