Parkinson's Disease Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Parkinson's Disease, including details on symptoms, treatment, genetics, medication.

Characterization of fibrillation process of alpha-synuclein at the initial stage.

Tashiro M, Kojima M, Kihara H, Kasai K, Kamiyoshihara T, Uéda K, Shimotakahara S

Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Technology, Meisei University, Hino, Tokyo 191-8506, Japan.

alpha-Synuclein is the major component of the filamentous Lewy bodies and Lewy-related neurites, neuropathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease. Although numerous studies on alpha-synuclein fibrillation have been reported, the molecular mechanisms of aggregation and fibrillation at the initial stage are still unclear. In the present study, structural properties and propensities to form fibrils of alpha-synuclein at the initial stage were investigated using 2D (1)H-(15)N NMR spectroscopy, electron microscope, and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Observation of the 2D (1)H-(15)N HSQC spectra indicated significant attenuation of many cross peak intensities in the regions of KTKEGV-type repeats and the non-Abeta component of Alzheimer's disease amyloid (NAC), suggesting that these regions contributed fibril formation. Oligomerization comprising heptamer was successfully monitored at the initial stage using the time-dependent SAXS measurements.

Published 31 March 2008 in Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 369(3): 910-4.
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