α-Synuclein and Neurodegeneration (BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY-Molecular Clinical Chemistry)

Abstract

α-Synuclein is implicated in pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases, but the molecular mechanisms of its action might be different. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), NAC (non-Aβ component of AD amyloid) is produced from α-synuclein, and then interacts with A protein to form amyloid in senile plaques. In Parkinson's disease (PD) and Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), a full-length or partially truncated form of α-synuclein is a constituent of LB, that is an inclusion found in degenerating neurons. Recently, oligodendroglial cytoplasmic inclusion in multiple system atrophy was reported to be immunoreactive with anti-α-synuclein antibody. Therefore, α-synuclein is suggested to be a common mediator of neurodegenerative diseases.