Background

Alpha-synuclein is a protein that is abundant in human brain, and smaller amounts are also found in the heart, muscle and other tissues. In the brain, alpha-synuclein is mainly found at the ends of neurons in specialized structures called presynaptic terminals. Within these structures, alpha-synuclein interacts with phospholipids and proteins. Although the function of alpha-synuclein is not well understood, studies suggest that it plays an important role in maintaining an adequate supply of synaptic vesicles in presynaptic terminals.

Parkinson’s Disease

α-Synuclein (α-Syn) aggregates, the major toxic component of Lewy bodies, are proteinaceous fibrillar cytoplasmic inclusions observed in α-synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple system atrophy, and dementia with Lewy bodies.

The major pathological feature of multiple system atrophy (MSA) is α-syn aggregates in oligodendrocytes that form glial cytoplasmic inclusions. Although the cell biology of α-syn remains largely unclear, α-syn seems to have several important regulatory functions, including synaptic maintenance, mitochondrial homeostasis, proteasome function, dopamine metabolism, and chaperone activity.

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