title: Chaperone-like activities of alpha-synuclein: alpha-synuclein assists enzyme activities of esterases.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biotechnology and Molecular Engineering, College of Engineering, Ajou University, Suwon 443-749, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Misun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Seungbum
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Yeonwoo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: T Doohun
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D004795:Enzyme Stability; D004950:Esterases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D016631:Lewy Bodies / Q000737:chemistry; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000737:chemistry; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology; D012997:Solvents; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D012997:Solvents; D051844:alpha-Synuclein; D004950:Esterases