Alpha-synuclein mechanism contributing to Parkinson’s disease revealed

Written by Adam Price-Evans

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh (PA, USA) led by J. Timothy Greenamyre (University of Pittsburgh ) appear to have elucidated the mechanism by which alpha-synuclein causes neurotoxicity in Parkinson’s disease (PD) brains. The findings were published recently in Science Translational Medicine. PD is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with motor symptoms including tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia and postural instability. A key pathological feature of PD is the selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain, accompanied by the formation of alpha-synuclein rich Lewy body protein aggregates. High levels of alpha-synuclein have also been linked to the disruption  of normal mitochondrial functioning,...

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