title: α-Synuclein as a ferrireductase.
abstract: Many proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases have poorly defined or unknown functions. α-Synuclein is one such protein which is associated with a range of diseases including Parkinson's disease. Now accepted as a metal-binding protein, α-synuclein's function could possibly be defined in relation to the binding of cofactors. It has been suggested recently that α-synuclein is able to reduce iron using copper as its catalytic centre. The consequence of this is that possibly the function of α-synuclein can now be defined. The evidence for this and the consequences for Parkinson's disease are discussed in the present review.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, U.K.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D038181:FMN Reductase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051844:alpha-Synuclein; D038181:FMN Reductase; C023903:ferric citrate iron reductase