| Literature DB >> 28108534 |
Jacqueline Burré1, Manu Sharma1, Thomas C Südhof2,3.
Abstract
α-Synuclein is an abundant neuronal protein that is highly enriched in presynaptic nerve terminals. Genetics and neuropathology studies link α-synuclein to Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. Accumulation of misfolded oligomers and larger aggregates of α-synuclein defines multiple neurodegenerative diseases called synucleinopathies, but the mechanisms by which α-synuclein acts in neurodegeneration are unknown. Moreover, the normal cellular function of α-synuclein remains debated. In this perspective, we review the structural characteristics of α-synuclein, its developmental expression pattern, its cellular and subcellular localization, and its function in neurons. We also discuss recent progress on secretion of α-synuclein, which may contribute to its interneuronal spread in a prion-like fashion, and describe the neurotoxic effects of α-synuclein that are thought to be responsible for its role in neurodegeneration.Entities:
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Year: 2018 PMID: 28108534 PMCID: PMC5519445 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a024091
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med ISSN: 2157-1422 Impact factor: 6.915