gamma-synuclein has a dynamic intracellular localization.
gamma-Synuclein is a member of the synuclein family consisting of three proteins. Within the last several years increasing attention has focused on these proteins because of their role in human diseases. alpha-Synuclein relevance to Parkinson's disease is based on mutations found in familial cases of the disease and its presence in filaments and inclusion bodies in sporadic cases. gamma-Synuclein is implicated in some forms of cancer and ocular diseases, while beta-synuclein may antagonize their pathological functions. In this paper we present data on the localization and properties of gamma-synuclein in several neuronal and nonneuronal cell cultures. We show that contrary to the current opinion, gamma-synuclein is not an exclusively cytoplasmic protein, but has a dynamic localization and can associate with subcellular structures. It is present in the perinuclear area and may be associated to centrosomes. On late steps of mitosis gamma-synuclein is not found in the centrosomes, and redistributes to the midbody in telophase. Under stress conditions a translocation of gamma-synuclein from the perinuclear area to the nucleus occurs exhibiting nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. gamma-Synuclein overexpression reduces neurite outgrowth in a greater extent then alpha-synuclein overexpression. These data support the view that gamma-synuclein may change its intracellular localization and associate with subcellular structures in response to intracellular signaling or stress.
Surgucheva
Irina
I
Retinal Biology Research Laboratory, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Kansas City, MO 66148, USA. asurguchov@kumc.edu
McMahon
Belinda
B
Surguchov
Andrei
A
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D018385:Centrosome / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D016501:Neurites / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport; D051845:gamma-Synuclein / Q000378:metabolism*
D051845:gamma-Synuclein