title: A novel link between the conformations, exposure of specific epitopes, and subcellular localization of α-synuclein.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Genetic studies and the abundance of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) in presynaptic terminals suggest that α-Syn plays a critical role in maintaining synaptic vesicle pools. However, there are still few experimental tools for elucidating its physiological roles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unexpectedly, we detected various cellular distribution patterns of endogenous α-Syn by immunofluorescence assays (IFAs). To provide new molecular insights into α-Syn research, we identified associations between epitopes, conformations, and subcellular localization of α-Syn and categorized them.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The α-Syn exposing Y125 was found to coexist with F-actin at the edge of the cells, including the plasma membrane. α-Syn conformations exposing P128 or both F94 and K97 were partly localized to the mitochondria. These results indicate that various conformations of α-Syn are associated with specific subcellular localizations. Intriguingly, we demonstrate for the first time that the phosphorylated α-Syn at Ser129, also known as a Parkinson's disease (PD)-causing form, is targeted to the mitochondria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed that different subcellular distribution patterns of α-Syn reflect the existence of various α-Syn conformations under normal conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides novel clues for deciphering the physiological function of α-Syn in connection with subcellular localization. Dissecting the specific α-Syn conformations may lead to useful strategies in PD therapy and diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea; Department of Medical Life Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea; Department of Medical Life Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Hye
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ja-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea; Department of Medical Life Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Si-Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea; Department of Medical Life Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Goo-Young
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seongman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea; Department of Medical Life Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: hrhim@catholic.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Hyangshuk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rhim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000939:Epitopes / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism*; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D051844:alpha-Synuclein
keywords: Alpha synuclein; Conformation; Epitope; Subcellular localization