Direct Observation of the Interconversion of Normal and Toxic Forms of α-synuclein

Overview

Journal Cell

Publisher Cell Press

Specialty Cell Biology

Date 2012 May 29

PMID 22632969

Citations 449

Authors

Nunilo Cremades

Samuel I A Cohen

Emma Deas

Andrey Y Abramov

Allen Y Chen

Angel Orte

Massimo Sandal

Richard W Clarke

Paul Dunne

Francesco A Aprile

Carlos W Bertoncini

Nicholas W Wood

Tuomas P J Knowles

Christopher M Dobson

David Klenerman

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Here, we use single-molecule techniques to study the aggregation of α-synuclein, the protein whose misfolding and deposition is associated with Parkinson's disease. We identify a conformational change from the initially formed oligomers to stable, more compact proteinase-K-resistant oligomers as the key step that leads ultimately to fibril formation. The oligomers formed as a result of the structural conversion generate much higher levels of oxidative stress in rat primary neurons than do the oligomers formed initially, showing that they are more damaging to cells. The structural conversion is remarkably slow, indicating a high kinetic barrier for the conversion and suggesting that there is a significant period of time for the cellular protective machinery to operate and potentially for therapeutic intervention, prior to the onset of cellular damage. In the absence of added soluble protein, the assembly process is reversed and fibrils disaggregate to form stable oligomers, hence acting as a source of cytotoxic species.

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