Non-steric-zipper models for pathogenic α-synuclein conformers.

ABSTRACT: Parkinson's disease neurodegenerative brain tissue exhibits two biophysically distinct α-synuclein fiber isoforms-single stranded fibers that appear to be steric-zippers and double-stranded fibers with an undetermined structure. Herein, we describe a β-helical homology model of α-synuclein that exhibits stability in probabilistic and Monte Carlo simulations as a candidate for stable prional dimer conformers in equilibrium with double-stranded fibers and cytotoxic pore assemblies. Molecular models of β-helical pore assemblies are consistent with α-synuclein^A53T transfected rat immunofluorescence epitope maps. Atomic force microscopy reveals that α-synuclein peptides aggregate into anisotropic fibrils lacking the density or circumference of a steric-zipper. Moreover, fibrillation

SUBMITTER: Schuman B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6481714 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature