Dissecting nucleolar functions in dopaminergic neurons and Parkinson's disease by targeted inactivation of the transcription-initiation factor IA (TIF-IA) [Elektronische Ressource] / presented by Claus Rieker

Dissertation submitted to the Combined Faculties for the Natural Sciences and for Mathematics Ruperto-Carola University of Heidelberg, Germany for the degree of Doctor of Natural Sciences presented by Diplom-Biologist Claus Rieker born in Geislingen / Steige oral examination: Dissecting nucleolar functions in dopaminergic neurons and Parkinson’s disease by targeted inactivation of the transcription-initiation factor IA (TIF-IA) Referees: Prof. Dr. Günther Schütz Prof. Dr. Hilmar Bading Table of contents Table of contents 1. SUMMARY...............................................................................1 1.1 Zusammenfassung ............................................................................2 2. INTRODUCTION......................................................................3 2.1 Neural development...........................................................................3 2.2 Dopaminergic neurons.......................................................................3 2.3 Dopamine and associated cellular pathologies..................................5 2.4 Parkinson’s disease7 2.5 Molecular mechanism of PD..............................................................8 2.6 The nucleolus: site of ribosomal RNA synthesis..............................10 2.7 RNA polymerase I.............