Anti-Recombinant GBA, clone A678

Beta-Glucosylceramidase (beta-GC) is a lysosomal enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of glucocerebroside into free ceramide and glucose. Lysosomal breakdown of glucocerebroside is required for cellular metabolism of complex lipids and proper turnover of cellular membrane. In the absence of GBA, the gene that encodes beta-GC, autophagic lysosome reformation is altered, suggesting that beta-GC activity is critical to maintain functional lysosomes. The cellular function of lysosomes is to degrade and recycle cellular waste to maintain proper cellular energy metabolism. Mutations in human GBA cause deficiency in beta-GC, resulting in the accumulation of lysosomal glucocerebroside. Macrophages are particularly sensitive to lysosomal glucocerebroside accumulation due to their role in phagocytosis-mediated breakdown of cellular debris and dying cells. Gaucher disease, a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder that is genetically linked to GBA, is marked by engorged "Gaucher cell" macrophages in the spleen, liver, and bone marrow. GBA mutations are the most common genetic risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra with formation of alpha-synuclein-rich Lewy bodies in surviving neurons. GBA mutations may play a direct role in accumulation of alpha-synuclein by mechanisms that are poorly understood, but may include mislocalization of lysosomal beta-GC causing impaired lysosomal degradation of alpha-synuclein.