Structural andT hermodynamic Studies of a-Synuclein Proteins Related to Parkinson’s Disease

2011 ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 363 (1500) ◽  
pp. 2215-2227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshikuni Mizuno ◽  
Nobutaka Hattori ◽  
Shin-ichiro Kubo ◽  
Shigeto Sato ◽  
Kenya Nishioka ◽  
...  

Recent progresses in the pathogenesis of sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD) and genetics of familial PD are reviewed. There are common molecular events between sporadic and familial PD, particularly between sporadic PD and PARK1 -linked PD due to α - synuclein ( SNCA ) mutations. In sporadic form, interaction of genetic predisposition and environmental factors is probably a primary event inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage resulting in oligomer and aggregate formations of α-synuclein. In PARK1 -linked PD, mutant α-synuclein proteins initiate the disease process as they have increased tendency for self-aggregation. As highly phosphorylated aggregated proteins are deposited in nigral neurons in PD, dysfunctions of proteolytic systems, i.e. the ubiquitin–proteasome system and autophagy–lysosomal pathway, seem to be contributing to the final neurodegenerative process. Studies on the molecular mechanisms of nigral neuronal death in familial forms of PD will contribute further on the understanding of the pathogenesis of sporadic PD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
James Gruschus

Alpha-synuclein lies at the center of Parkinson’s disease etiology, and polymorphisms in the gene for the microtubule-associated protein tau are risk factors for getting the disease. Tau and a-synuclein interact in vitro, and a-synuclein can also compete with tau binding to microtubules. To test whether these interactions might be part of their natural biological functions, a correlated mutation analysis was performed between tau and a-synuclein, looking for evidence of coevolution. For comparison, analyses were also performed between tau and b- and g-synuclein. In addition, analyses were performed between tau and the synuclein proteins and the neuronal tubulin proteins. Potential correlated mutations were detected between tau and a-synuclein, one involving an a-synuclein residue known to interact with tau in vitro, Asn122, and others involving the Parkinson’s disease-associated mutation A53T. No significant correlated mutations were seen between tau and b- and g-synuclein. Tau showed potential correlated mutations with the neuron-specific bIII-tubulin protein, encoded by the TUBB3 gene. No convincing correlated mutations were seen between the synuclein and tubulin proteins, with the possible exception of b-synuclein with bIVa-tubulin, encoded by the TUBB4A gene. While the correlated mutations between tau and a-synuclein suggest the two proteins have coevolved, additional study will be needed to confirm that their interaction is part of their normal biological function in cells.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ehsan Alimohammadi ◽  
Arash Nikzad ◽  
Mohamad Khedri ◽  
Milad Rezaeian ◽  
Ahmad Miri Jahromi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders. One of the underlying mechanisms of the disease is the accumulation of α-synuclein protein aggregates, including amyloids and Lewy bodies in the brain, resulting in the death of dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra. The current treatments for PD are mainly focused on replacing dopamine. However, if these medications are stopped, the severity of PD will increase. Moreover, the drugs used for the treatment of PD are associated with considerable side effects and dietary restrictions. Therefore, necessary studies to develop more effective medications for PD seem to be indispensable. To prevent the progression of PD, avoiding the development of α-synuclein amyloids could be proposed. Methods: In this study, the effects of three last-generation nanotube-based structures on α-synuclein amyloid formation were investigated for the first time employing Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation tools. Molecular dynamics provide a deep insight into atomic interactions and can well study α-synuclein amyloid formation at the atomic and molecular scales.Results: The molecular study results indicated that all of the nanotubes studied in this work, had strong energy interactions with α-synuclein. Therefore, nanotubes using phosphorus, nitrogen and boron dopants, have great potential to prevent α-synuclein amyloid formation. Among these nanotubes, phosphorus-doped carbon nanotube (P-CNT) has the most substantial interactions with α-synuclein. The P-CNT caused more hydrogen bonds to be formed between water and α-synuclein molecules. This phenomenon leads to a decrease in the compactness, stability, and contact area of α-synuclein proteins, which results in considerable changes in the secondary structure of α-synuclein.Conclusions: Doping nanotubes especially P-CNT could be very effective for preventing the α-synuclein amyloid formation and hence, halting the progression of PD. This molecular study paves the way for the use of the Doping nanotubes in the treatment of PD. These structures are highly tunable and flexible. Therefore, the results of this work can be developed to computational, experimental and clinical levels.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony H. V. Schapira ◽  
Matthew Gegg

The identification of the etiologies and pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) should play an important role in enabling the development of novel treatment strategies to prevent or slow the progression of the disease. The last few years have seen enormous progress in this respect. Abnormalities of mitochondrial function and increased free radical mediated damage were described in post mortem PD brain before the first gene mutations causing familial PD were published. Several genetic causes are now known to induce loss of dopaminergic cells and parkinsonism, and study of the mechanisms by which these mutations produce this effect has provided important insights into the pathogenesis of PD and confirmed mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress pathways as central to PD pathogenesis. Abnormalities of protein metabolism including protein mis-folding and aggregation are also crucial to the pathology of PD. Genetic causes of PD have specifically highlighted the importance of mitochondrial dysfunction to PD: PINK1, parkin, DJ-1 and most recently alpha-synuclein proteins have been shown to localise to mitochondria and influence function. The turnover of mitochondria by autophagy (mitophagy) has also become a focus of attention. This review summarises recent discoveries in the contribution of mitochondrial abnormalities to PD etiology and pathogenesis.


Author(s):  
Nuriye Yıldırım Gökay ◽  
Bülent Gündüz ◽  
Fatih Söke ◽  
Recep Karamert

Purpose The effects of neurological diseases on the auditory system have been a notable issue for investigators because the auditory pathway is closely associated with neural systems. The purposes of this study are to evaluate the efferent auditory system function and hearing quality in Parkinson's disease (PD) and to compare the findings with age-matched individuals without PD to present a perspective on aging. Method The study included 35 individuals with PD (mean age of 48.50 ± 8.00 years) and 35 normal-hearing peers (mean age of 49 ± 10 years). The following tests were administered for all participants: the first section of the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale; pure-tone audiometry, speech audiometry, tympanometry, and acoustic reflexes; and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) and contralateral suppression of DPOAEs. SPSS Version 25 was used for statistical analyses, and values of p < .05 were considered statistically significant. Results There were no statistically significant differences in the pure-tone audiometry thresholds and DPOAE responses between the individuals with PD and their normal-hearing peers ( p = .732). However, statistically significant differences were found between the groups in suppression levels of DPOAEs and hearing quality ( p < .05). In addition, a statistically significant and positive correlation was found between the amount of suppression at some frequencies and the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale scores. Conclusions This study indicates that medial olivocochlear efferent system function and the hearing quality of individuals with PD were affected adversely due to the results of PD pathophysiology on the hearing system. For optimal intervention and follow-up, tasks related to hearing quality in daily life can also be added to therapies for PD.


2004 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 10-13
Author(s):  
Linda Worrall ◽  
Jennifer Egan ◽  
Dorothea Oxenham ◽  
Felicity Stewart

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