title: Mechanisms of neuronal death in synucleinopathy.
abstract: alpha-synuclein is a key molecule in the pathogenesis of synucleinopathy including Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy. In this mini-review, we mainly focus on recent data obtained from cellular models of synucleinopathy and discuss the possible mechanisms of neurodegeneration. Recent progress suggests that the aggregate formation of alpha-synuclein is cytoprotective and that its precursor oligomer (protofibril) may be cytotoxic. The catechol-derived quinones are the candidate molecules that facilitate the oligomer formation of alpha-synuclein. Furthermore, the cellular membranes are shown to be the primary targets injured by mutant alpha-synucleins, and the mitochondrial dysfunction seems to be an initial step in the neuronal death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Center for Asian Traditional Medicine Research, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Aobaku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Michiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuzaki-Kobayashi
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sugeno
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: Yasuto
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Itoyama
authors.forename: Katsutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Furukawa