Journal of Alzheimer's Disease - Volume 6, issue 4

Authors: Moreira, Paula I. | Liu, Quan | Honda, Kazuhiro | Smith, Mark A. | Santos, Maria S. | Oliveira, Catarina R.

Article Type: Article Commentary

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2004-6411

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 433-434, 2004

Authors: Alim, Muhammad Abdul | Ma, Qiu-Lan | Takeda, Kazuya | Aizawa, Takako | Matsubara, Mamoru | Nakamura, Minako | Asada, Akiko | Saito, Taro | xKaji, Mitsunobu | Yoshii, Mitsunobu | Hisanaga, Shinichi | Uéda, Kenji

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: α-Synuclein is a major constituent of pathological intracellular inclusion bodies, a common feature of several neurodegenerative diseases. Two missense mutations in the α-synuclein gene have been identified in confirmed autosomal-dominant familial Parkinson's disease, which segregate with the illness. However, the physiological function of α-synuclein remains unknown. After biochemical investigations we have revealed tubulin to be an α-synuclein associated/binding protein. Here, we show that α-synuclein induces polymerization of purified tubulin into microtubules. Mutant forms of α-synuclein lose this potential. The binding site of α-synuclein to tubulin is identified, and co-localization of α-synuclein with microtubules is shown in cultured cells. To our …knowledge, this is the first demonstration of microtubule-polymerizing activity of α-synuclein. Now we can see a striking resemblance between α-synuclein and tau: both have the same physiological function and pathological features, making abnormal structures in diseased brains known as synucleinopathies and tauopathies. The discovery of a physiological role for α-synuclein may provide a new dimension in researches into the mechanisms of α-synuclein-associated neurodegenerative diseases. Show more

Keywords: lewy body, MAP, neurodegeneration, Parkinson, synuclein, tubulin

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2004-6412

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 435-442, 2004

Article Type: Discussion

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2004-6413

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 443-449, 2004

Article Type: Book Review

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2004-6414

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 451-451, 2004

Article Type: Book Review

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2004-6415

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 453-453, 2004

Article Type: Obituary

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2004-6416

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 455-456, 2004

Article Type: Announcement

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2004-6417

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 457-460, 2004