title: The hexapeptide PGVTAV suppresses neurotoxicity of human α-synuclein aggregates.
abstract: In Parkinson's disease patients, α-synuclein is the major component of the intracellular protein aggregates found in dopaminergic neurons. Previously, short synthetic α-synuclein-derived peptides have been shown to not only prevent α-synuclein fibrillation but also dissolve preformed α-synuclein aggregates in vitro. The hexapeptide PGVTAV was the shortest peptide that retained the ability to block α-synuclein fibrillation. For preventative or therapeutic effectiveness, a treatment must suppress the neurotoxicity of α-synuclein aggregates and remain stable in plasma. The present study shows that specific peptides can protect neuronal cells from α-synuclein aggregation-induced cell death. The β-sheet-breaking hexapeptide PGVTAV remained intact in human plasma for longer than one day, suggesting that it may be a candidate for the development of therapeutics to treat Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Sejong University, 98 Gunja-dong, Kwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-747, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min Yeong
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: You Soon
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dongyeol
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Shin Jung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Yang-Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyunghee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Im
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D055550:Protein Stability; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D009842:Oligopeptides; D051844:alpha-Synuclein; C559728:prolyl-glycyl-valyl-threonyl-alanyl-valine