Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (Ask1) deficiency alleviates MPP+-induced impairment of evoked dopamine release in the mouse hippocampus

RNA sequencing analysis indicated that genes associated with the synaptic pathways are involved in response to MPP+ exposure. Notably, Ask1 deficiency was found to modulate the expression of Slc5a7, a gene encoding a sodium-dependent high-affinity choline transporter that regulates acetylcholine levels. Respective following up experiments indicated that Slc5a7 plays a role in Ask1 deficiency-mediated protection against MPP+ neurotoxicity.