Alpha Synuclein, cellular dysfunction and Parkinson disease

National Institute On Aging

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Our work on a-synuclein is currently focussed on applying large scale screening approaches to understand the pathobiology associated with this protein, which is now known to not only be a marker of disease but also plays an active role in disease progression. We have spent time evaluating candidate molecules that may be involved in the transfer of a-synuclein between cells, which is robustly modeled in cells and animals. Although one reported candidate receptor was not able to be confirmed in our hands, we have vetted clusterin as an extracellular interactor of a-synuclein that likely changes uptake by the endolysosomal system at least in cells in culture.