A Role of Cholesterol in Modulating the Binding of α-Synuclein to Synaptic-Like Vesicles.

ABSTRACT: α-Synuclein (αS) is a presynaptic protein whose aggregation is associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). Although the physiological function of αS is still unclear, several lines of evidence indicate that this protein may play a role in the trafficking of synaptic vesicles (SVs) during neurotransmitter release, a task associated with its ability to bind SVs and promote their clustering. It is therefore crucial to identify the cellular factors that modulate this process. To address this question, using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy we have characterized the role of cholesterol, a major component of the membrane of SVs, in the binding of αS with synaptic-like vesicles. Our results indicate that cholesterol can act as a modulator of the overall affinity of αS for SVs by reduci

SUBMITTER: Man WK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7000551 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature