Neuro-cell biological studies of alpha-synuclein

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After the biochemical examination of SDS-insoluble materials of the brains with Alzheimer's disease, we identified human alpha-Synuclein by cDNA cloning. Some missense mutations of the gene for alpha-Synuclein were found as causal genes for the patients with familial Parkinson's disease and with familial dementia with Lewy bodies. However, physiological functions of alpha-Synuclein remain elusive. In the present studies, we have shown that alpha-Synuclein is localized in the inner membrane of neuronal mitochondria, and that alpha-Synuclein binds adenylate translocator. It suggests that alpha-Synuclein may regulate the production of ATP through mitochondrial permeability transition pore. Using in vitro cell culture systems, we showed that alpha-Synuclein promotes cell proliferation and affects early neurite outgrowth. It was shown that these effects are through microtubule formation via tubulin assembly by alpha-Synuclein.