Synuclein Explained

Synucleins are a family of soluble proteins common to vertebrates, primarily expressed in neural tissue and in certain tumors.^[1]

The name is a blend of the words "synapse" and "nucleus", as it was first found in the synapses in the electromotor nucleus of the electric ray.^[2]

Family members

The synuclein family includes three known proteins: alpha-synuclein, beta-synuclein, and gamma-synuclein. Interest in the synuclein family began when alpha-synuclein was found to be mutated in several families with autosomal dominant Parkinson's disease.^[3]

All synucleins have in common a highly conserved alpha-helical lipid-binding motif with similarity to the class-A2 lipid-binding domains of the exchangeable apolipoproteins. Synuclein family members are not found outside vertebrates, although they have some conserved structural similarity with plant 'late-embryo-abundant' proteins.

Function

Normal cellular functions have not been determined for any of the synuclein proteins. Some data suggest a role in the regulation of membrane stability and/or turnover.^[4] Mutations in alpha-synuclein are associated with early-onset familial Parkinson's disease and the protein aggregates abnormally in Parkinson's disease, Lewy body disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases.^{[5] [6]} The gamma-synuclein protein's expression in breast tumors is a marker for tumor progression.^{[7] [8]}

Human proteins containing this domain

SNCA

SNCB; SNCG;

Notes and References

1. George JM . The synucleins . Genome Biol. . 3 . 1 . REVIEWS3002 . 2002 . 11806835 . 150459 . 10.1186/gb-2001-3-1-reviews3002 . free .
2. https://web.archive.org/web/20210521084512/https://www.lexico.com/definition/synuclein SYNUCLEIN | Definition of SYNUCLEIN by Oxford Dictionary on Lexico.com
3. Polymeropoulos MH, Lavedan C, Leroy E, Ide SE, Dehejia A, Dutra A, etal . Mutation in the alpha-synuclein gene identified in families with Parkinson's disease. . Science . 1997 . 276 . 5321 . 2045–7 . 9197268 . 10.1126/science.276.5321.2045 .
4. Kara E . An integrated genomic approach to dissect the genetic landscape regulating the cell-to-cell transfer of α-synuclein . Cell Reports . 35 . 10. 2021 . 109189 . 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109189 . 34107263 . 8207177 .
5. Mezey E, Dehejia A, Harta G, Papp MI, Polymeropoulos MH, Brownstein MJ . Alpha synuclein in neurodegenerative disorders: murderer or accomplice? . Nat Med . 1998 . 4 . 7 . 755–7 . 9662355 . 10.1038/nm0798-755 . 46196799 .
6. Goedert M . Alpha-synuclein and neurodegenerative diseases . Nat. Rev. Neurosci. . 2 . 7 . 492–501 . July 2001 . 11433374 . 10.1038/35081564 . 2792701 .
7. Ji H, Liu YE, Jia T, Wang M, Liu J, Xiao G, etal . Identification of a breast cancer-specific gene, BCSG1, by direct differential cDNA sequencing. . Cancer Res . 1997 . 57 . 4 . 759–64 . 9044857 .
8. Bruening W, Giasson BI, Klein-Szanto AJ, Lee VM, Trojanowski JQ, Godwin AK . Synucleins are expressed in the majority of breast and ovarian carcinomas and in preneoplastic lesions of the ovary . Cancer . 88 . 9 . 2154–63 . May 2000 . 10813729. 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0142(20000501)88:9<2154::AID-CNCR23>3.0.CO;2-9 . free .