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Developmental loss and resistance to MPTP toxicity of dopaminergic neurones in substantia nigra pars compacta of gamma-synuclein, alpha-synuclein and double alpha/gamma-synuclein null mutant mice.

The growing body of evidence suggests that intermediate products of alpha-synuclein aggregation cause death of sensitive populations of neurones, particularly dopaminergic neurones, which is a critical event in the development of Parkinson's disease and other synucleinopathies. The role of two other members of the family, beta-synuclein and gamma-synuclein, in neurodegeneration is less understood. We studied the effect of inactivation of gamma-synuclein gene on mouse midbrain dopaminergic neurones. Reduced number of dopaminergic neurones was found in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) but not in ventral tegmental area (VTA) of early post-natal and adult gamma-synuclein null mutant mice. Similar reductions were revealed in alpha-synuclein and double alpha-synuclein/gamma-synuclein null mutant animals. However, in none of these mutants did this lead to significant changes of striatal dopamine or dopamine metabolite levels and motor dysfunction. In all three studied types of null mutants, dopaminergic neurones of SNpc were resistant to methyl-phenyl-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) toxicity. We propose that both synucleins are important for effective survival of SNpc neurones during critical period of development but, in the absence of these proteins, permanent activation of compensatory mechanisms allow many neurones to survive and become resistant to certain toxic insults.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗

Stress-induced aggregation profiles of GST-alpha-synuclein fusion proteins: role of the C-terminal acidic tail of alpha-synuclein in protein thermosolubility and stability.

Alpha-synuclein is a well-known heat-resistant protein that does not aggregate upon heat treatment, whereas glutathione S-transferase (GST) is a heat-labile protein that easily precipitates as a result of thermal stress. This paper reports the role of the C-terminal acidic tail of alpha-synuclein in protein thermosolubility and stability. The region of alpha-synuclein that is responsible for the heat resistance was initially investigated using a series of deletion mutants, and the C-terminal acidic tail (residues 96-140) was found to be crucial for the thermosolubility of alpha-synuclein. The thermal behavior of the GST-alpha-synuclein fusion protein was next investigated, and the fusion protein was seen to be extremely heat-resistant. Using a series of GST-synuclein deletion mutants, the C-terminal acidic tail of alpha-synuclein was shown to play a critical role in conferring the heat resistance of the fusion proteins. Furthermore, the acidic tail appeared to protect the fusion protein from pH- and metal-induced protein aggregation, suggesting that the acidic tail can increase the virtual stability of the protein by protecting it from the aggregation induced by environmental stresses. Interestingly, the acidic tail also appeared to protect the GST enzyme from the thermal inactivation to a considerable extent. However, CD analysis of the heat-induced secondary structural changes of the GST-alpha-synuclein fusion protein revealed that the fusion protein is irreversibly denatured by heat treatment with a slightly lowered melting temperature (Tm). Thus, the results demonstrate that introducing an acidic tail into GST promotes the thermosolubility and virtual stability of the fusion protein, although it might be unfavorable for its intrinsic stability.

Base Sequence↗

Alpha-synuclein gene deletion decreases brain palmitate uptake and alters the palmitate metabolism in the absence of alpha-synuclein palmitate binding.

Alpha-synuclein is an abundant protein in the central nervous system that is associated with a number of neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease. Its physiological function is poorly understood, although recently it was proposed to function as a fatty acid binding protein. To better define a role for alpha-synuclein in brain fatty acid uptake and metabolism, we infused awake, wild-type, or alpha-synuclein gene-ablated mice with [1-(14)C]palmitic acid (16:0) and assessed fatty acid uptake and turnover kinetics in brain phospholipids. Alpha-synuclein deficiency decreased brain 16:0 uptake 35% and reduced its targeting to the organic fraction. The incorporation coefficient for 16:0 entering the brain acyl-CoA pool was significantly decreased 36% in alpha-synuclein gene-ablated mice. Because incorporation coefficients alone are not predictive of fatty acid turnover in individual phospholipid classes, we calculated kinetic values for 16:0 entering brain phospholipid pools. Alpha-synuclein deficiency decreased the incorporation rate and fractional turnover of 16:0 in a number of phospholipid classes, but also increased the incorporation rate and fractional turnover of 16:0 in the choline glycerophospholipids. No differences in incorporation rate or turnover were observed in liver phospholipids, confirming that these changes in lipid metabolism were brain specific. Using titration microcalorimetry, we observed no binding of 16:0 or oleic acid to alpha-synuclein in vitro. Thus, alpha-synuclein has effects on 16:0 uptake and metabolism similar to those of an FABP, but unlike FABP, it does not directly bind 16:0; hence, the mechanism underlying these effects is different from that of a classical FABP.

Acyl Coenzyme A↗

Rapid purification and analysis of alpha-synuclein proteins: C-terminal truncation promotes the conversion of alpha-synuclein into a protease-sensitive form in Escherichia coli.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder and is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons and the formation of eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies known as Lewy bodies. Although alpha-synuclein is known to be a pivotal factor implicated in the pathogenesis of PD, its function remains to be elucidated. We used the pGEX expression system to develop a simple and rapid method for purifying alpha-synuclein proteins in suitable forms for biochemical studies of their functions. The wild-type alpha-synuclein protein was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified to approx. 80% purity with relatively high yields. We also used this expression system to investigate the expression pattern of the various domains of alpha-synuclein. With the exception of the alpha-synuclein protein that was truncated at amino acid residue 95, all domain constructs of alpha-synuclein were purified at similar levels with relatively high yields. Unexpectedly, removal of amino acid residues 96-140 in the C-terminal acidic region of alpha-synuclein promotes its conversion to a protease-sensitive form during expression and purification in E. coli. Our study suggests a method for generating useful reagents to investigate the molecular mechanism by which alpha-synuclein regulates the pathogenesis of PD.

Escherichia coli↗

Alpha-synuclein and the Parkinson's disease-related mutant Ala53Thr-alpha-synuclein do not undergo proteasomal degradation in HEK293 and neuronal cells.

Synucleins are neuronal proteins detectable in the neuropathological lesions of several cerebral disorders. Thus, alpha-synuclein immunoreactivity is found in Lewy bodies, the histopathological hallmark of sporadic Parkinson disease-affected brains. When mutated, alpha-synuclein seems to be responsible for some familial forms of Parkinson disease. As Lewy bodies are enriched in ubiquitinated structures and also contain proteasome-related immunoreactivity, it could be hypothesized that the proteasome contributes to the cellular degradation of alpha-synucleins, thereby controlling their concentration-dependent aggregation process. Here, we first demonstrate that alpha-synuclein is not ubiquitinated in HEK293 cells. Furthermore, by means of two specific inhibitors, we show that wild type and Ala53Thr alpha-synuclein do not behave as proteasome substrates in HEK293 cells and murine neurons. Our study indicates that the proteasome does not contribute to the control of cellular synucleins concentration and therefore, unlikely participates to cerebral alpha-synucleinopathies.

Alanine↗

Overexpression of alpha-synuclein in rat substantia nigra results in loss of dopaminergic neurons, phosphorylation of alpha-synuclein and activation of caspase-9: resemblance to pathogenetic changes in Parkinson's disease.

To elucidate the role of alpha-synuclein in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease, both human alpha-synuclein transgenic mice and targeted overexpression of human alpha-synuclein in rat substantia nigra using viral vector-based methods have been studied, however, little is known about the pathogenetic changes of dopaminergic neuron loss. Therefore, it is necessary to address whether the pathogenetic changes in brains with Parkinson's disease are recapitulated in these models. Here, we used the recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vector system for human alpha-synuclein gene transfer to rat substantia nigra and observed approximately 50% loss of dopaminergic neurons at 13 weeks after infection, which was comparably slower than the progression of neurodegeneration reported in other studies. In the slower progression of neurodegeneration, we identified several important features in common with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease, such as phosphorylation of alpha-synuclein at Ser129 and activation of caspase-9. Both findings were also evident in cortical tissues overexpressing alpha-synuclein via rAAV. Our results indicate that overexpression of alpha-synuclein via rAAV apparently recapitulates several important features of brains with Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, and thus alpha-synucleinopathy described here is likely to be an ideal model for the study of the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.

Animals↗

An alternatively spliced form of rodent alpha-synuclein forms intracellular inclusions in vitro: role of the carboxy-terminus in alpha-synuclein aggregation.

In the rat, the -synuclein gene is alternatively spliced and exists in three forms, rat synuclein 1 (rSYN1), synuclein 2 (rSYN2) and synuclein 3. rSYN2 cDNA encodes a 149 amino acid protein that is homologous to rSYN1 and human -synuclein for the first 100 amino acids, but is divergent for the 49 amino acid carboxy-terminal region. We demonstrate here that rSYN2 forms small aggregates throughout the cytoplasm when overexpressed in human H4 cells, whereas rSYN1 expression is diffuse. Inhibition of the proteasome promotes the formation of larger, cytoplasmic rSYN2 inclusions in transfected cells. Although a survey of the available databases suggests that there is no human splice form equivalent of rSYN2, thus arguing against a direct role in Lewy body formation and Parkinson's disease, these data nonetheless suggest that modifications of the carboxy-terminal region of -synuclein predispose it to inclusion formation.

Alternative Splicing↗

Agrin binds alpha-synuclein and modulates alpha-synuclein fibrillation.

Recent studies have begun to investigate the role of agrin in brain and suggest that agrin's function likely extends beyond that of a synaptogenic protein. Particularly, it has been shown that agrin is associated with the pathological lesions of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may contribute to the formation of beta-amyloid (Abeta) plaques in AD. We have extended the analysis of agrin's function in neurodegenerative diseases to investigate its role in Parkinson's disease (PD). Alpha-synuclein is a critical molecular determinant in familial and sporadic PD, with the formation of alpha-synuclein fibrils being enhanced by sulfated macromolecules. In the studies reported here, we show that agrin binds to alpha-synuclein in a heparan sulfate-dependent (HS-dependent) manner, induces conformational changes in this protein characterized by beta-sheet structure, and enhances insolubility of alpha-synuclein. We also show that agrin accelerates the formation of protofibrils by alpha-synuclein and decreases the half-time of fibril formation. The association of agrin with PD lesions was also explored in PD human brain, and these studies shown that agrin colocalizes with alpha-synuclein in neuronal Lewy bodies in the substantia nigra of PD brain. These studies indicate that agrin is capable of accelerating the formation of insoluble protein fibrils in a second common neurodegenerative disease. These findings may indicate shared molecular mechanisms leading to the pathophysiology in these two neurodegenerative disorders.

Agrin↗

Chaperone-like activities of alpha-synuclein: alpha-synuclein assists enzyme activities of esterases.

Alpha-synuclein, a major constituent of Lewy bodies (LBs), has been implicated to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD), although the physiological function of alpha-synuclein has not yet been known. Here we have shown that alpha-synuclein, which has no well-defined secondary or tertiary structure, can protect the enzyme activity of microbial esterases against stress conditions such as heat, pH, and organic solvents. In particular, the flexibility of alpha-synuclein and its C-terminal region seems to be important for complex formation, but the structural integrity of the C-terminal region may not be required for stabilization of enzyme activity. In addition, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and in vivo enzyme assays showed highly specific interactions of esterases with alpha-synuclein. Our results indicate that alpha-synuclein not only protects the enzyme activity of microbial esterases in vitro, but also can stabilize the active conformation of microbial esterases in vivo.

Enzyme Stability↗

Characterization of oligomeric intermediates in alpha-synuclein fibrillation: FRET studies of Y125W/Y133F/Y136F alpha-synuclein.

The aggregation of alpha-synuclein is believed to be a critical step in the etiology of Parkinson's disease. A variety of biophysical techniques were used to investigate the aggregation and fibrillation of alpha-synuclein in which one of the four intrinsic Tyr residues was replaced by Trp, and two others by Phe, in order to permit fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between residues 39 (Tyr) and 125 (Trp). The mutant Y125W/Y133F/Y136F alpha-synuclein (one Tyr, one Trp) showed fibrillation kinetics similar to that of the wild-type, as did the Y125F/Y133F/Y136F (one Tyr, no Trp) and Y39F/Y125W/Y133F/Y136F (no Tyr, one Trp) mutants. Time-dependent changes in FRET, Fourier transform infrared, Trp fluorescence, dynamic light-scattering and other probes, indicate the existence of a transient oligomer, whose population reaches a maximum at the end of the lag time. This oligomer, in which the alpha-synuclein is in a partially folded conformation, is subsequently converted into fibrils, and has physical properties that are distinct from those of the monomer and fibrils. In addition, another population of soluble oligomers was observed to coexist with fibrils at completion of the reaction. The average distance between Tyr39 and Trp125 decreases from 24.9A in the monomer to 21.9A in the early oligomer and 18.8A in the late oligomer. Trp125 remains solvent-exposed in both the oligomers and fibrils, indicating that the C-terminal domain is not part of the fibril core. No FRET was observed in the fibrils, due to quenching of Tyr39 fluorescence in the fibril core. Thus, aggregation of alpha-synuclein involves multiple oligomeric intermediates and competing pathways.

Anilino Naphthalenesulfonates↗

Kinetic stabilization of the alpha-synuclein protofibril by a dopamine-alpha-synuclein adduct.

The substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease (PD) is depleted of dopaminergic neurons and contains fibrillar Lewy bodies comprising primarily alpha-synuclein. We screened a library to identify drug-like molecules to probe the relation between neurodegeneration and alpha-synuclein fibrilization. All but one of 15 fibril inhibitors were catecholamines related to dopamine. The inhibitory activity of dopamine depended on its oxidative ligation to alpha-synuclein and was selective for the protofibril-to-fibril conversion, causing accumulation of the alpha-synuclein protofibril. Adduct formation provides an explanation for the dopaminergic selectivity of alpha-synuclein-associated neurotoxicity in PD and has implications for current and future PD therapeutic and diagnostic strategies.

Animals↗

Calpain-resistant fragment(s) of alpha-synuclein regulates the synuclein-cleaving activity of 20S proteasome.

Alpha-synuclein is a pathological component of Parkinson's disease by participating in Lewy body formation. Imbalance in protein turnover could result in the abnormal protein aggregation responsible for eventual neuronal cell death. This in vitro digestion study showed that both m-calpain and 20S proteasome preferentially hydrolyzed the N-terminal half of alpha-synuclein, which made the hydrophobic NAC and following acidic C-terminal region resistant against the proteolyses. Since the acidic C-terminal region contains the PEST segment-a protein degradation signal enriched with amino acids of proline (P), glutamate (E), serine (S), and threonine (T)-, the PEST segment has not been processed or even required for the proteolyses. Alpha-synuclein would be recognized primarily by m-calpain since the common substrate was processed by m-calpain five times more effectively than 20S proteasome with k(cat)/K(m) of 1.64 x 10(4)M(-1)s(-1) and 0.32 x 10(4) M(-1)s(-1), respectively. The N-terminally truncated protease-resistant C-terminal fragment of alpha-syn61-140 was demonstrated to stimulate the 20S proteasome-mediated breakdown of alpha-synuclein and its mutant forms of Ala53Thr and Ala30Pro. The stimulation for Ala53Thr, however, was noticeably less efficient than those for the other proteins, which might support the previous observation of the prolonged intracellular life span of Ala53Thr by 1.5-fold compared to that of wild-type form. We have hypothesized that the N-terminally truncated C-terminal fragment derived from the abundant alpha-synuclein through intracellular proteolyses could be involved in various physiological or pathological effects which might be related to the formation of abnormal protein aggregation and subsequent neuronal degeneration by influencing the intracellular protein turnover or directly participating in the aggregate formation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Alpha-synuclein and Parkinson's disease: selective neurodegenerative effect of alpha-synuclein fragment on dopaminergic neurons in vitro and in vivo.

Missense mutations in the alpha-synuclein gene were associated with a familial Parkinson's disease, and alpha-synuclein is a major component of Lewy bodies, the intracellular inclusions that neuropathologically characterize Parkinson's disease. We investigated the neurotoxic activity of the nonamyloid component (NAC) of senile plaque, the fibrillogenic fragment (61-95) of alpha-synuclein, in vitro and in vivo. Rat primary mesencephalic neurons were exposed for 6 days to low concentrations of preaggregated NAC (0.5-10.0 microM). The number of dopaminergic neurons and dopamine content were both reduced with no effect on the general viability of the cells. At higher concentrations (25-100 microM), the neurotoxic effect of NAC was extended to all neurons. Preaggregated NAC was also toxic on a PC12 dopaminergic cell line differentiated with nerve growth factor. The intracellular localization of NAC has been identified by the exposure of neuronal cells to fluorescent peptide. In vivo application of aggregated NAC in the substantia nigra induced loss of dopaminergic neurons. Our data illustrate the selective neurotoxic effect of NAC for dopaminergic neurons and support the central role of alpha-synuclein in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.

Animals↗

Residues in the synuclein consensus motif of the alpha-synuclein fragment, NAC, participate in transglutaminase-catalysed cross-linking to Alzheimer-disease amyloid beta A4 peptide.

The widespread deposition of amyloid plaques is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer disease (AD). A recently described component of amyloid plaques is the 35-residue peptide, non-A beta component of AD amyloid, which is derived from a larger intracellular neuronal constituent, alpha-synuclein. We demonstrate that transglutaminase catalyses the formation of the covalent non-A beta component of AD amyloid polymers in vitro as well as polymers with beta-amyloid peptide, the major constituent of AD plaques. The transglutaminase-reactive amino acid residues in the non-A beta component of AD amyloid were identified as Gln79 and Lys80. Lys80 is localized in a consensus motif Lys-Thr-Lys-Glu-Gly-Val, which is conserved in the synuclein gene family. Thus transglutaminase might be involved in the formation of insoluble amyloid deposits and participate in the modification of other members of the synuclein family.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Fibrillization of alpha-synuclein and tau in familial Parkinson's disease caused by the A53T alpha-synuclein mutation.

Mutations in the alpha-synuclein (alpha-syn) gene are responsible for a rare familial parkinsonism syndrome, a finding that has led to extensive characterization of altered alpha-syn structure in sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. We report here the immunohistochemical, biochemical and ultrastructural characterization of alpha-syn neuropathology in a case of familial PD with the A53T alpha-syn gene mutation. Insoluble filamentous alpha-syn lesions were detected in almost all brain regions examined and as in sporadic PD, we observed the accumulation of insoluble nitrated alpha-syn in this familial disorder. Significant accumulations of filamentous insoluble tau protein also were detected in some brain regions of this patient, suggesting a role for A53T mutant alpha-syn in tau fibrillization. Indeed, in vitro studies of tau and alpha-syn fibrillization showed that the A53T mutation accelerated alpha-syn fibril formation, initiated tau assembly into filaments and synergistically enhanced fibrillization of both tau and alpha-syn. Our data implicate fibrillization of alpha-syn and tau in the pathogenesis of PD, and suggest that distinct amyloidogenic proteins may cross-seed each other in neurodegenerative diseases.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Cleavage of alpha-synuclein by calpain: potential role in degradation of fibrillized and nitrated species of alpha-synuclein.

Alpha-synuclein (alpha-syn) is a major protein component of the neuropathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease and related neurodegenerative disorders termed synucleinopathies. Neither the mechanism of alpha-syn fibrillization nor the degradative process for alpha-syn has been elucidated. Previously, we showed that wild-type, mutated, and fibrillar alpha-syn proteins are substrates of calpain I in vitro. In this study, we demonstrate that calpain-mediated cleavage near and within the middle region of soluble alpha-syn with/without tyrosine nitration and oxidation generates fragments that are unable to self-fibrillize. More importantly, these fragments prevent full-length alpha-syn from fibrillizing. Calpain-mediated cleavage of alpha-syn fibrils composed of wild-type or nitrated alpha-syn generate C-terminally truncated fragments that retain their fibrillar structure and induce soluble full-length alpha-syn to co-assemble. Therefore, calpain-cleaved soluble alpha-syn inhibits fibrillization, whereas calpain-cleaved fibrillar alpha-syn promotes further co-assembly. These results provide insight into possible disease mechanisms underlying synucleinopathies since the formation of alpha-syn fibrils could be causally linked to the onset/progression of these disorders.

Calpain↗

Human alpha-synuclein-harboring familial Parkinson's disease-linked Ala-53 --> Thr mutation causes neurodegenerative disease with alpha-synuclein aggregation in transgenic mice.

Mutations in alpha-synuclein (alpha-Syn) cause Parkinson's disease (PD) in a small number of pedigrees with familial PD. Moreover, alpha-Syn accumulates as a major component of Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites, intraneuronal inclusions that are neuropathological hallmarks of PD. To better understand the pathogenic relationship between alterations in the biology of alpha-Syn and PD-associated neurodegeneration, we generated multiple lines of transgenic mice expressing high levels of either wild-type or familial PD-linked Ala-30 --> Pro (A30P) or Ala-53 --> Thr (A53T) human alpha-Syns. The mice expressing the A53T human alpha-Syn, but not wild-type or the A30P variants, develop adult-onset neurodegenerative disease with a progressive motoric dysfunction leading to death. Pathologically, affected mice exhibit neuronal abnormalities (in perikarya and neurites) including pathological accumulations of alpha-Syn and ubiquitin. Consistent with abnormal neuronal accumulation of alpha-Syn, brain regions with pathology exhibit increases in detergent-insoluble alpha-Syn and alpha-Syn aggregates. Our results demonstrate that the A53T mutant alpha-Syn causes significantly greater in vivo neurotoxicity as compared with other alpha-Syn variants. Further, alpha-Syn-dependent neurodegeneration is associated with abnormal accumulation of detergent-insoluble alpha-Syn.

Alanine↗

A precipitating role for truncated alpha-synuclein and the proteasome in alpha-synuclein aggregation: implications for pathogenesis of Parkinson disease.

Parkinson disease and other alpha-synucleinopathies are characterized by the deposition of intraneuronal alpha-synuclein (alphaSyn) inclusions. A significant fraction (about 15%) of alphaSyn in these pathological structures are truncated forms that have a much higher propensity than the full-length alphaSyn to form aggregates in vitro. However, little is known about the role of truncated alphaSyn species in pathogenesis or the means by which they are generated. Here, we have provided an in vitro mechanistic study demonstrating that truncated alphaSyns induce rapid aggregation of full-length protein at substoichiometric ratios. Co-overexpression of truncated alphaSyn with full-length protein increases cell vulnerability to oxidative stress in dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells. These results suggest a precipitating role for truncated alphaSyn in the pathogenesis of diseases involving alphaSyn aggregation. In this regard, the A53T mutation found in some cases of familial Parkinson disease exacerbates the accumulation of insoluble alphaSyns that correlates with the onset of pathology in transgenic mice expressing human alphaSyn-A53T mutant. The caspase-like activity of the 20 S proteasome produces truncated fragments similar to those found in patients and animal models from degradation of unstructured alphaSyn. We propose a model in which incomplete degradation of alphaSyn, especially under overloaded proteasome capacity, produces highly amyloidogenic fragments that rapidly induce the aggregation of full-length protein. These aggregates in turn reduce proteasome activity, leading to further accumulation of fragmented and full-length alphaSyns, creating a vicious cycle of cytotoxicity. This model has parallels in other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington disease, where coaggregation of poly(Q) fragments with full-length protein has been observed.

Aged↗