Parkinson's disease is a common neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of
dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and the accumulation of the
protein α-synuclein into aggregates called Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites. Parkinson's
disease can be modeled in Drosophila where directed expression of α-synuclein induces
compromise of dopaminergic neurons and the formation of Lewy body-like aggregates. The
molecular chaperone Hsp70 protects cells from the deleterious effects of α-synuclein …