Alpha-synuclein in alpha-helical conformation at air-water interface: implication of conformation and orientation changes during its accumulation/aggregation

Chem Commun (Camb). 2010 Sep 28;46(36):6702-4. doi: 10.1039/c0cc02098b. Epub 2010 Aug 16.

Abstract

Alpha-synuclein, a natively unstructured protein important in the neuropathology of Parkinson's disease, was found to form a Langmuir monolayer in an alpha-helical conformation with its helical axis parallel to the air-water interface. This study sheds light on the role of vesicles in neuronal cells in the accumulation/aggregation of alpha-synuclein.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Air*
  • Humans
  • Parkinson Disease / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Spectrophotometry, Infrared
  • Water / chemistry*
  • alpha-Synuclein / chemistry*

Substances

  • alpha-Synuclein
  • Water