Interaction of α-Synuclein with ATP Synthase: Switching Role from Physiological to Pathological.

The most abundantly present protein found in Lewy bodies, which is the pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease, is α-synuclein. Native monomeric α-synuclein is localized within mitochondria, interacts with ATP synthase subunit, and enhances ATP synthase efficiency and mitochondrial function. Recently, an advanced study shows that the interaction of α-synuclein oligomer with ATP synthase switches its role from physiological to pathological, which leads to mitochondrial dysfunction.