| 1. |
- Cartelli, Daniele, et al.
(författare)
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α-Synuclein is a Novel Microtubule Dynamase
- 2016
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- α-Synuclein is a presynaptic protein associated to Parkinson's disease, which is unstructured when free in the cytoplasm and adopts α helical conformation when bound to vesicles. After decades of intense studies, α-Synuclein physiology is still difficult to clear up due to its interaction with multiple partners and its involvement in a pletora of neuronal functions. Here, we looked at the remarkably neglected interplay between α-Synuclein and microtubules, which potentially impacts on synaptic functionality. In order to identify the mechanisms underlying these actions, we investigated the interaction between purified α-Synuclein and tubulin. We demonstrated that α-Synuclein binds to microtubules and tubulin α2β2 tetramer; the latter interaction inducing the formation of helical segment(s) in the α-Synuclein polypeptide. This structural change seems to enable α-Synuclein to promote microtubule nucleation and to enhance microtubule growth rate and catastrophe frequency, both in vitro and in cell. We also showed that Parkinson's disease-linked α-Synuclein variants do not undergo tubulin-induced folding and cause tubulin aggregation rather than polymerization. Our data enable us to propose α-Synuclein as a novel, foldable, microtubule-dynamase, which influences microtubule organisation through its binding to tubulin and its regulating effects on microtubule nucleation and dynamics.
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| 2. |
- Faustini, Gaia, et al.
(författare)
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Synapsin III deficiency hampers α-synuclein aggregation, striatal synaptic damage and nigral cell loss in an AAV-based mouse model of Parkinson’s disease
- 2018
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Ingår i: Acta Neuropathologica. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0001-6322 .- 1432-0533. ; 136:4, s. 621-639
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Parkinson’s disease (PD), the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder, is characterized by the progressive loss of nigral dopamine neurons. The deposition of fibrillary aggregated α-synuclein in Lewy bodies (LB), that is considered to play a causative role in the disease, constitutes another key neuropathological hallmark of PD. We have recently described that synapsin III (Syn III), a synaptic phosphoprotein that regulates dopamine release in cooperation with α-synuclein, is present in the α-synuclein insoluble fibrils composing the LB of patients affected by PD. Moreover, we observed that silencing of Syn III gene could prevent α-synuclein fibrillary aggregation in vitro. This evidence suggests that Syn III might be crucially involved in α-synuclein pathological deposition. To test this hypothesis, we studied whether mice knock-out (ko) for Syn III might be protected from α-synuclein aggregation and nigrostriatal neuron degeneration resulting from the unilateral injection of adeno-associated viral vectors (AAV)-mediating human wild-type (wt) α-synuclein overexpression (AAV-hαsyn). We found that Syn III ko mice injected with AAV-hαsyn did not develop fibrillary insoluble α-synuclein aggregates, showed reduced amount of α-synuclein oligomers detected by in situ proximity ligation assay (PLA) and lower levels of Ser129-phosphorylated α-synuclein. Moreover, the nigrostriatal neurons of Syn III ko mice were protected from both synaptic damage and degeneration triggered by the AAV-hαsyn injection. Our observations indicate that Syn III constitutes a crucial mediator of α-synuclein aggregation and toxicity and identify Syn III as a novel therapeutic target for PD.
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| 3. |
- Faustini, Gaia, et al.
(författare)
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Synapsin III gene silencing redeems alpha-synuclein transgenic mice from Parkinsons disease-like phenotype
- 2022
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Ingår i: Molecular Therapy. - : Cell Press. - 1525-0016 .- 1525-0024. ; 30:4, s. 1465-1483
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Fibrillary aggregated alpha-synuclein (alpha-syn) deposition in Lewy bodies (LB) characterizes Parkinsons disease (PD) and is believed to trigger dopaminergic synaptic failure and a retrograde terminal-to-cell body neuronal degeneration. We described that the neuronal phosphoprotein synapsin III (Syn III) cooperates with alpha-syn to regulate dopamine (DA) release and can be found in the insoluble alpha-syn fibrils composing LB. Moreover, we showed that a-syn aggregates deposition, and the associated onset of synaptic deficits and neuronal degeneration occurring following adeno-associated viral vectors-mediated overexpression of human alpha-syn in the nigrostriatal system are hindered in Syn III knock out mice. This supports that Syn III facilitates alpha-syn aggregation. Here, in an interventional experimental design, we found that by inducing the gene silencing of Syn III in human alpha-syn transgenic mice at PD-like stage with advanced alpha-syn aggregation and overt striatal synaptic failure, we could lower alpha-syn aggregates and striatal fibers loss. In parallel, we observed recovery from synaptic vesicles clumping, DA release failure, and motor functions impairment. This supports that Syn III consolidates alpha-syn aggregates, while its downregulation enables their reduction and redeems the PD-like phenotype. Strategies targeting Syn III could thus constitute a therapeutic option for PD.
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| 4. |
- Streubel-Gallasch, Linn, et al.
(författare)
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Parkinson's Disease-Associated LRRK2 Interferes with Astrocyte-Mediated Alpha-Synuclein Clearance
- 2021
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Ingår i: Molecular Neurobiology. - : Springer Nature. - 0893-7648 .- 1559-1182. ; 58:7, s. 3119-3140
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative, progressive disease without a cure. To prevent PD onset or at least limit neurodegeneration, a better understanding of the underlying cellular and molecular disease mechanisms is crucial. Mutations in the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene represent one of the most common causes of familial PD. In addition, LRRK2 variants are risk factors for sporadic PD, making LRRK2 an attractive therapeutic target. Mutations in LRRK2 have been linked to impaired alpha-synuclein (alpha-syn) degradation in neurons. However, in which way pathogenic LRRK2 affects alpha-syn clearance by astrocytes, the major glial cell type of the brain, remains unclear. The impact of astrocytes on PD progression has received more attention and recent data indicate that astrocytes play a key role in alpha-syn-mediated pathology. In the present study, we aimed to compare the capacity of wild-type astrocytes and astrocytes carrying the PD-linked G2019S mutation in Lrrk2 to ingest and degrade fibrillary alpha-syn. For this purpose, we used two different astrocyte culture systems that were exposed to sonicated alpha-syn for 24 h and analyzed directly after the alpha-syn pulse or 6 days later. To elucidate the impact of LRRK2 on alpha-syn clearance, we performed various analyses, including complementary imaging, transmission electron microscopy, and proteomic approaches. Our results show that astrocytes carrying the G2019S mutation in Lrrk2 exhibit a decreased capacity to internalize and degrade fibrillar alpha-syn via the endo-lysosomal pathway. In addition, we demonstrate that the reduction of alpha-syn internalization in the Lrrk2 G2019S astrocytes is linked to annexin A2 (AnxA2) loss of function. Together, our findings reveal that astrocytic LRRK2 contributes to the clearance of extracellular alpha-syn aggregates through an AnxA2-dependent mechanism.
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