Bent out of shape: α-Synuclein misfolding and the convergence of pathogenic pathways in Parkinson's disease.
Protein inclusions made up primarily of misfolded α-synuclein (α-Syn) are the hallmark of a set of disorders known as synucleinopathies, most notably Parkinson's disease (PD). It is becoming increasingly appreciated that α-Syn misfolding can spread to anatomically connected regions in a prion-like manner. The protein aggregates that ensue are correlated with neurodegeneration in the various yet select neuronal populations that are affected. Recent advances have begun to shed light on the spreading and toxicity mechanisms that may be occurring in PD. Several key emerging themes are arising from this work suggesting that α-Syn mediated neurodegeneration is due to a combination of relative α-Syn expression level, connectivity to affected brain regions, and intrinsic vulnerability to pathology.
Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States.
Esteban
E
Luna
Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States. Electronic address: kelvincl@upenn.edu.
Kelvin C
KC
Luk
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017510:Protein Folding; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
D051844:alpha-Synuclein; D002118:Calcium
Alpha-synuclein; Neurodegeneration; Parkinson’s disease; Protein misfolding; Selective vulnerability