Key Connectomes and Synaptic-Compartment-Specific Risk Genes Drive Pathological α-Synuclein Spreading.

ABSTRACT: Previous studies have suggested that pathological α-synuclein (α-Syn) mainly transmits along the neuronal network, but several key questions remain unanswered: 1) How many and which connections in the connectome are necessary for predicting the progression of pathological α-Syn? 2) How to identify risk genes that affect pathology spreading functioning at presynaptic or postsynaptic regions, and are these genes enriched in different cell types? Here, these questions are addressed with novel mathematical models. Strikingly, the spreading of pathological α-Syn is predominantly determined by the key subnetworks composed of only 2% of the strongest connections in the connectome. Genes associated with the selective vulnerability of brain regions to pathological α-Syn transmission are further ana

SUBMITTER: Li Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12224943 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature