beta-Synuclein inhibits alpha-synuclein aggregation: a possible role as an anti-parkinsonian factor.

We characterized beta-synuclein, the non-amyloidogenic homolog of alpha-synuclein, as an inhibitor of aggregation of alpha-synuclein, a molecule implicated in Parkinson's disease. For this, doubly transgenic mice expressing human (h) alpha- and beta-synuclein were generated. In doubly transgenic mice, beta-synuclein ameliorated motor deficits, neurodegenerative alterations, and neuronal alpha-synuclein accumulation seen in ...
halpha-synuclein transgenic mice. Similarly, cell lines transfected with beta-synuclein were resistant to alpha-synuclein accumulation. halpha-synuclein was coimmunoprecipitated with hbeta-synuclein in the brains of doubly transgenic mice and in the double-transfected cell lines. Our results raise the possibility that beta-synuclein might be a natural negative regulator of alpha-synuclein aggregation and that a similar class of endogenous factors might regulate the aggregation state of other molecules involved in neurodegeneration. Such an anti-amyloidogenic property of beta-synuclein might also provide a novel strategy for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
Mesh Terms:
Animals, Antiparkinson Agents, Brain, Dimerization, Gene Expression, Humans, Immunosorbent Techniques, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Inbred DBA, Mice, Transgenic, Motor Activity, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Recombinant Proteins, Synucleins, Transfection, alpha-Synuclein, beta-Synuclein
Neuron
Date: Oct. 25, 2001
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