Synuclein

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Synuclein
Identifiers
Symbol Synuclein
Pfam PF01387
InterPro IPR001058
OPM family 159
OPM protein 1xq8
Available PDB structures:

1xq8A:1-132

Synuclein is a small, soluble protein primarily expressed in neural tissue and in certain tumors.

Contents

[edit] Synuclein family

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.[1]

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.[2]

[edit] Biological functions

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. Mutations in alpha-synuclein are associated with early-onset familial Parkinson's disease and the protein aggregates abnormally in Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases.[3] The gamma-synuclein protein's expression in breast tumors is a marker for tumor progression.[4]

[edit] Subfamilies

[edit] Human proteins containing this domain

SNCA; SNCB; SNCG;

[edit] References

  1. ^ Lavedan C. (1998) The synuclein family. Genome Res. 8(9):871-880. PMID 9750188.
  2. ^ George, JM. (2001) The synucleins. Genome Biology 3(1):reviews3002.1-3002.6. PMID 11806835
  3. ^ Goedart M. (2001) Alpha-synuclein and neurodegenerative diseases. Nat Rev Neuroscience 2(7):492-501. PMID 11433374
  4. ^ Bruening W, Giasson BI, Klein-Szanto AJ, Lee VM, Trojanowski JQ, Godwin AK. (2000) Synucleins are expressed in the majority of breast and ovarian carcinomas and in preneoplastic lesions of the ovary. Cancer 88(9):2154-2163. PMID 10813729

[edit] Further reading

  • [1]. The synuclein family. Lavedan C; Genome Res 1998;8:871-880. PubMed
  • [2]. The synucleins. George JM; Genome Biol 2002;3:REVIEWS3002. PubMed

[edit] References

  1. ^ Lavedan C. (1998) The synuclein family. Genome Res. 8(9):871-880. PMID 9750188.
  2. ^ George, JM. (2001) The synucleins. Genome Biology 3(1):reviews3002.1-3002.6. PMID 11806835
  3. ^ Goedart M. (2001) Alpha-synuclein and neurodegenerative diseases. Nat Rev Neuroscience 2(7):492-501. PMID 11433374
  4. ^ Bruening W, Giasson BI, Klein-Szanto AJ, Lee VM, Trojanowski JQ, Godwin AK. (2000) Synucleins are expressed in the majority of breast and ovarian carcinomas and in preneoplastic lesions of the ovary. Cancer 88(9):2154-2163. PMID 10813729

[edit] External links

 This membrane protein-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.