Title: Dynamic structural flexibility of α-synuclein.
Authors: Mor, Danielle E; Ugras, Scott E; Daniels, Malcolm J; Ischiropoulos, Harry
Published In Neurobiol Dis, (2016 Apr)
Abstract: α-Synuclein is a conserved, abundantly expressed protein that is partially localized in pre-synaptic terminals in the central nervous system. The precise biological function(s) and structure of α-synuclein are under investigation. Recently, the native conformation and the presence of naturally occurring multimeric assemblies have come under debate. These are important deliberations because α-synuclein assembles into highly organized amyloid-like fibrils and non-amyloid amorphous aggregates that constitute the neuronal inclusions in Parkinson's disease and related disorders. Therefore understanding the nature of the native and pathological conformations is pivotal from the standpoint of therapeutic interventions that could maintain α-synuclein in its physiological state. In this review, we will discuss the existing evidence that define the physiological states of α-synuclein and highlight how the inherent structural flexibility of this protein may be important in health and disease.
PubMed ID:
26747212
MeSH Terms: No MeSH terms associated with this publication