title: Neural expression profile of alpha-synuclein in developing human cortex.
abstract: Alpha-synuclein is a predominantly neuronal presynaptic protein that may play an important role during synaptogenesis and CNS development. In order to elucidate the human developmental expression profile, we used a polyclonal antiserum against the NAC domain of alpha-synuclein. In normal fetal cortex neuroectodermal precursor cells elicited staining in the soma, whereas, in adult cortex, we observed a staining pattern compatible with synaptic function. The same developmental intraneuronal redistribution was found in neurodegenerative disorders, i.e. somatic staining in neuroectodermal precursors in fetal (trisomy 21) and a synaptic pattern in adult (Down's syndrome, Alzheimer's disease) brains. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis revealed expression at all time points studied (4-7.5 months) during human brain development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Bonn Medical Center, Germany.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Bayer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jäkälä
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Egensperger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buslei
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Falkai
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beyreuther
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000196:embryology*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051843:Synucleins; D051844:alpha-Synuclein
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C497604:SNCA protein, human; D051843:Synucleins; D051844:alpha-Synuclein