Effects of Mutations and Post-Translational Modifications on α-Synuclein In Vitro Aggregation

J Mol Biol. 2022 Dec 15;434(23):167859. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167859. Epub 2022 Oct 19.

Abstract

Fibrillar aggregates of the α-synuclein (αS) protein are the hallmark of Parkinson's Disease and related neurodegenerative disorders. Characterization of the effects of mutations and post-translational modifications (PTMs) on the αS aggregation rate can provide insight into the mechanism of fibril formation, which remains elusive in spite of intense study. A comprehensive collection (375 examples) of mutant and PTM aggregation rate data measured using the fluorescent probe thioflavin T is presented, as well as a summary of the effects of fluorescent labeling on αS aggregation (20 examples). A curated set of 131 single mutant de novo aggregation experiments are normalized to wild type controls and analyzed in terms of structural data for the monomer and fibrillar forms of αS. These tabulated data serve as a resource to the community to help in interpretation of aggregation experiments and to potentially be used as inputs for computational models of aggregation.

Keywords: Parkinson’s Disease; amyloid; fibril; neurodegenerative disorder; thioflavin T.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Parkinson Disease / genetics
  • Parkinson Disease / metabolism
  • Protein Aggregates* / genetics
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational*
  • alpha-Synuclein* / chemistry
  • alpha-Synuclein* / genetics

Substances

  • alpha-Synuclein
  • Amyloid
  • Protein Aggregates