Radiating amyloid fibril formation on the surface of lipid membranes through unit-assembly of oligomeric species of α-synuclein.
BACKGROUND
Lewy body in the substantia nigra is a cardinal pathological feature of Parkinson's disease. Despite enormous efforts, the cause-and-effect relationship between Lewy body formation and the disorder is yet to be explicitly unveiled.


RESULTS
Here, we showed that radiating amyloid fibrils (RAFs) were instantly developed on the surface of synthetic lipid membranes from the β-sheet free oligomeric species of α-synuclein through a unit-assembly process. The burgeoning RAFs were successfully matured by feeding them with additional oligomers, which led to concomitant dramatic shrinkage and disintegration of the membranes by pulling off lipid molecules to the extending fibrils. Mitochondria and lysosomes were demonstrated to be disrupted by the oligomeric α-synuclein via membrane-dependent fibril formation.


CONCLUSIONS
The physical structure formation of amyloid fibrils, therefore, could be considered as detrimental to the cells by affecting membrane integrity of the intracellular organelles, which might be a molecular cause for the neuronal degeneration observed in Parkinson's disease.
School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, College of Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Jung-Ho
JH
Lee
Chul-Suk
CS
Hong
Soonkoo
S
Lee
Jee-Eun
JE
Yang
Yong Il
YI
Park
Daekyun
D
Lee
Taeghwan
T
Hyeon
Seunho
S
Jung
Seung R
SR
Paik
D000682:Amyloid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004926:Escherichia coli; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D016631:Lewy Bodies / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008055:Lipids / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008566:Membranes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure
D000682:Amyloid; D008055:Lipids; D051844:alpha-Synuclein