Threonine 53 in α-synuclein is conserved in long-living non-primate animals

TY - JOUR

T1 - Threonine 53 in α-synuclein is conserved in long-living non-primate animals

AU - Larsen, Knud

AU - Hedegaard, Claus

AU - Bertelsen, Mads Frost

AU - Bendixen, Christian

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - α-Synuclein is the main constituent of Lewy bodies in familial and sporadic cases of Parkinson's disease (PD). Autosomal dominant point mutations, gene duplications or triplications in the α-synuclein (SNCA) gene cause hereditary forms of PD. One of the α-synuclein point mutations, Ala53Thr, is associated with increased oligomerization toxicity leading to familial early-onset PD in humans. The amino acid in position 53 in α-synuclein is an alanine in humans, great apes and Old World primates. However, this amino acid is a threonine in the α-synuclein of all other examined species, including New World monkeys. Here, we present DNA sequence analysis of SNCA and the deduced amino acid sequences of α-synuclein cloned from various different species, ranging from fish to mammals, which are known for their long-living potential. In all these investigated species the 53Thr is found. We conclude that 53Thr is not a molecular adaptation for long-living animals to minimize the risk of developing PD

AB - α-Synuclein is the main constituent of Lewy bodies in familial and sporadic cases of Parkinson's disease (PD). Autosomal dominant point mutations, gene duplications or triplications in the α-synuclein (SNCA) gene cause hereditary forms of PD. One of the α-synuclein point mutations, Ala53Thr, is associated with increased oligomerization toxicity leading to familial early-onset PD in humans. The amino acid in position 53 in α-synuclein is an alanine in humans, great apes and Old World primates. However, this amino acid is a threonine in the α-synuclein of all other examined species, including New World monkeys. Here, we present DNA sequence analysis of SNCA and the deduced amino acid sequences of α-synuclein cloned from various different species, ranging from fish to mammals, which are known for their long-living potential. In all these investigated species the 53Thr is found. We conclude that 53Thr is not a molecular adaptation for long-living animals to minimize the risk of developing PD

KW - α-Synuclein

KW - Mutation

KW - Parkinson’s disease

KW - SNCA

U2 - 10.1016/j.bbrc.2009.07.070

DO - 10.1016/j.bbrc.2009.07.070

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 19619507

SN - 0006-291X

VL - 387

SP - 602

EP - 605

JO - Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

JF - Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

IS - 3

ER -