Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
IUBMB Life. 2010 May;62(5):334-9. doi: 10.1002/iub.316.
Alpha-synuclein is a natively unfolded protein associated with a number of neurodegenerative disorders that include Parkinson's disease. In the past, research has focused on the fibrillar form of the protein. Current research now indicates that oligomeric alpha-synuclein is the form of the protein most likely to causes neuronal death. Recent research has suggested that a unique oligomer associated with the copper binding capacity of the protein is the neurotoxic form of the protein. This review looks at the evidence for this possibility.
α-突触核蛋白是一种天然无规则结构的蛋白质，与包括帕金森病在内的多种神经退行性疾病有关。过去的研究主要集中在该蛋白质的纤维形式上。目前的研究表明，寡聚体α-突触核蛋白是最有可能导致神经元死亡的蛋白质形式。最近的研究表明，与蛋白质的铜结合能力相关的一种独特寡聚体是蛋白质的神经毒性形式。这篇综述探讨了这种可能性的证据。
