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	HEYNE LEE I am originally from South Korea and moved to the United States in 2001 when I was Junior in High School. While majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology (NBB) at Emory University, I became interested in the dopaminergic system in the brain and its role in Parkinson’s disease (PD). To explore more about the dopamine and PD, I joined the Smith lab as an Honors student in 2006. Throughout my honors project, I studied the spine density in the striatum of MPTP-treated monkeys. MPTP is a neurotoxin that selectively kills dopaminergic neurons in the Substantia Nigra, producing a wonderful model for PD when systemically injected to monkeys. Compared to the control monkeys, MPTP-treated monkeys display a significant reduction in number of spines. Moreover, it appears that both direct and indirect pathways demonstrate spine degeneration in monkey animal model, unlike what is previously suggested with transgenic mice (Day et al., 2006). Although it was my first laboratory experience, my honors project went successfully with the support and help from wonderful Smith lab people, especially Rosa with whom I closely worked. My honors defense took place on Friday the 13th, and despite the scary number, I received the highest honors (summa cum laude). It was the happiest day of my life! After graduating in May 2007, I decided to take a year off to gain more research experience before applying for the medical school. So right now, I am a full-time research specialist in Smith lab. My current project involves Leucine Rich Repeat Kinase-2 (LRRK2) gene and its role in PD. LRRK2 is the most recently identified gene that is associated with PD, and I think it’s the most interesting one. Not to mention that LRRK2 mutations account for the majority of both familial and sporadic PD, its clinical phenotypes closely resemble symptoms of idiopathic PD. Our present knowledge about LRRK2, however, is still very superficial. Currently, I am using immunocytochemistry to look at the ultrastructural localization of LRRK2 in the monkey basal ganglia. Locating where LRRK2 exists in the monkey brain will provide better understanding of the role of LRRK2 in the pathological progression of PD. Aside from research work, I love playing piano and reading books. Also I am a big fan of Roger Federer! I am amazed by his ability to stay number one for so many years. Publications Lee H, Melrose H, Villalba R, Farrer M, and Smith Y (2007) Ultrastructural Localization of Lrrk2 Immunoreactivity in the Rat and Monkey Basal Ganglia. 37th annual society for neuroscience meeting. 895.11/T2 Villalba RM, Lee H, Raju DV, Smith Y (2007) Dopaminergic denervation and spine loss in the striatum of MPTP-treated monkeys. IXth International Basal Ganglia Society Meeting Proceedings, P-143. Photo-montages of typical Golgi-impregnated medium spiny neurons in the putamen of control monkeys Photo-montages of typical Golgi-impregnated medium spiny neurons in the putamen of MPTP-treated monkeys. Electron microscopic images of D1-immunolabeled spines from control monkey Electron microscopic images of D1-immunolabeled spines from MPTP-treated monkey LRRK2 expression in the monkey striatum Electron micrograph of LRRK2 immuno-labeled dendritic spine in the monkey striatum

HEYNE LEE

I am originally from South Korea and moved to the United States in 2001 when I was Junior in High School. While majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology (NBB) at Emory University, I became interested in the dopaminergic system in the brain and its role in Parkinson’s disease (PD). To explore more about the dopamine and PD, I joined the Smith lab as an Honors student in 2006. Throughout my honors project, I studied the spine density in the striatum of MPTP-treated monkeys. MPTP is a neurotoxin that selectively kills dopaminergic neurons in the Substantia Nigra, producing a wonderful model for PD when systemically injected to monkeys. Compared to the control monkeys, MPTP-treated monkeys display a significant reduction in number of spines. Moreover, it appears that both direct and indirect pathways demonstrate spine degeneration in monkey animal model, unlike what is previously suggested with transgenic mice (Day et al., 2006). Although it was my first laboratory experience, my honors project went successfully with the support and help from wonderful Smith lab people, especially Rosa with whom I closely worked. My honors defense took place on Friday the 13th, and despite the scary number, I received the highest honors (summa cum laude). It was the happiest day of my life!

After graduating in May 2007, I decided to take a year off to gain more research experience before applying for the medical school. So right now, I am a full-time research specialist in Smith lab. My current project involves Leucine Rich Repeat Kinase-2 (LRRK2) gene and its role in PD. LRRK2 is the most recently identified gene that is associated with PD, and I think it’s the most interesting one. Not to mention that LRRK2 mutations account for the majority of both familial and sporadic PD, its clinical phenotypes closely resemble symptoms of idiopathic PD. Our present knowledge about LRRK2, however, is still very superficial. Currently, I am using immunocytochemistry to look at the ultrastructural localization of LRRK2 in the monkey basal ganglia. Locating where LRRK2 exists in the monkey brain will provide better understanding of the role of LRRK2 in the pathological progression of PD.

Aside from research work, I love playing piano and reading books. Also I am a big fan of Roger Federer! I am amazed by his ability to stay number one for so many years.

Publications

Lee H, Melrose H, Villalba R, Farrer M, and Smith Y (2007) Ultrastructural Localization of Lrrk2 Immunoreactivity in the Rat and Monkey Basal Ganglia. 37th annual society for neuroscience meeting. 895.11/T2

Villalba RM, Lee H, Raju DV, Smith Y (2007) Dopaminergic denervation and spine loss in the striatum of MPTP-treated monkeys. IXth International Basal Ganglia Society Meeting Proceedings, P-143.

Photo-montages of typical Golgi-impregnated medium spiny neurons in the putamen of control monkeys

Photo-montages of typical Golgi-impregnated medium spiny neurons in the putamen of MPTP-treated monkeys.

Electron microscopic images of D1-immunolabeled spines from control monkey

Electron microscopic images of D1-immunolabeled spines from MPTP-treated monkey

LRRK2 expression in the monkey striatum

Electron micrograph of LRRK2 immuno-labeled dendritic spine in the monkey striatum