The behavior of alpha-synuclein in neurons.
Despite considerable evidence linking alpha-synuclein with membranes in vitro, it has proven difficult to demonstrate membrane association of the protein in vivo. alpha-Synuclein localizes to the nerve terminal, but biochemical experiments have not revealed a tight association with membranes. To address the dynamics of the protein in live cells, we have used photobleaching and found that alpha-synuclein exhibits high mobility, although distinctly less than an entirely soluble protein. Further, neural activity controls the distribution of alpha-synuclein, causing its dispersion from the synapse. In addition to the presumed role of alpha-synuclein dynamics in synaptic function, changes in its physiological behavior may underlie the pathological changes associated with Parkinson's disease.
Fortin
Doris L
DL
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA.
Nemani
Venu M
VM
Nakamura
Ken
K
Edwards
Robert H
RH
D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D051844:alpha-Synuclein; D002118:Calcium