title: The Parkinson disease protein α-synuclein inhibits autophagy.
abstract: Parkinson disease (PD) is the most common movement disorder affecting people. It is characterized by the accumulation of the protein α-synuclein in Lewy body inclusions in vulnerable neurons. α-Synuclein overexpression caused by gene multiplications is sufficient to cause this disease, suggesting that α-synuclein accumulation is toxic. Here we review our recent study showing that α-synuclein inhibits autophagy. We discuss our mechanistic understanding of this phenomenon and also speculate how a deficiency in autophagy may contribute to a range of pleiotropic features of PD biology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Ashley R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Winslow
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Rubinsztein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001343:Autophagy; D000071183:Autophagy-Related Proteins; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016631:Lewy Bodies / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D010588:Phagosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000378:metabolism*; D020761:rab1 GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C503283:ATG9B protein, human; D000071183:Autophagy-Related Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051844:alpha-Synuclein; D020761:rab1 GTP-Binding Proteins