Transfected synphilin-1 forms cytoplasmic inclusions in HEK293 cells

Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 2001 Dec 16;97(1):94-102. doi: 10.1016/s0169-328x(01)00292-3.

Abstract

The discovery of mutations in the gene for alpha-synuclein in familial Parkinson's disease (PD) has led to an increased interest in this pre-synaptic protein. Synphilin-1, a potential synuclein-binding protein, was cloned using yeast two-hybrid assays. The function of synphilin-1 is currently unknown, although it has been reported to be present along with alpha-synuclein in Lewy bodies in PD. In the present study, we monitored synphilin-1 aggregation directly using fusion proteins of synphilin-1 and green fluorescent protein (EGFP). Transfection of synphilin-EGFP fusion proteins formed cytoplasmic inclusions in HEK293 cells. Although these inclusions overlapped with the distribution of alpha-synuclein, they were unlike Lewy bodies in that they were not eosinophilic, and instead were membrane-bound, lipid-rich cytoplasmic inclusions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Line / chemistry
  • Cell Line / ultrastructure
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Embryo, Mammalian
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Humans
  • Inclusion Bodies / chemistry*
  • Kidney
  • Leupeptins / pharmacology
  • Lewy Bodies / chemistry
  • Lewy Bodies / ultrastructure
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Multienzyme Complexes / metabolism
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Parkinson Disease / genetics
  • Parkinson Disease / pathology
  • Point Mutation
  • Protease Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Transfection
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Leupeptins
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Protease Inhibitors
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • SNCAIP protein, human
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
  • benzyloxycarbonylleucyl-leucyl-leucine aldehyde