Amyloid fibril structure of α-synuclein determined by cryo-electron microscopy

Cell Res. 2018 Sep;28(9):897-903. doi: 10.1038/s41422-018-0075-x. Epub 2018 Jul 31.

Abstract

α-Synuclein (α-syn) amyloid fibrils are the major component of Lewy bodies, which are the pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD) and other synucleinopathies. High-resolution structure of α-syn fibril is important for understanding its assembly and pathological mechanism. Here, we determined a fibril structure of full-length α-syn (1-140) at the resolution of 3.07 Å by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). The fibrils are cytotoxic, and transmissible to induce endogenous α-syn aggregation in primary neurons. Based on the reconstructed cryo-EM density map, we were able to unambiguously build the fibril structure comprising residues 37-99. The α-syn amyloid fibril structure shows two protofilaments intertwining along an approximate 21 screw axis into a left-handed helix. Each protofilament features a Greek key-like topology. Remarkably, five out of the six early-onset PD familial mutations are located at the dimer interface of the fibril (H50Q, G51D, and A53T/E) or involved in the stabilization of the protofilament (E46K). Furthermore, these PD mutations lead to the formation of fibrils with polymorphic structures distinct from that of the wild-type. Our study provides molecular insight into the fibrillar assembly of α-syn at the atomic level and sheds light on the molecular pathogenesis caused by familial PD mutations of α-syn.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid / chemistry*
  • Amyloid / ultrastructure*
  • Cryoelectron Microscopy*
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Conformation
  • alpha-Synuclein / chemistry*
  • alpha-Synuclein / genetics
  • alpha-Synuclein / ultrastructure*

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • alpha-Synuclein