Biomaterial Database

α-Synuclein can inhibit SNARE-mediated vesicle fusion through direct interactions with lipid bilayers. 2013

David C DeWitt, and Elizabeth Rhoades

Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.

The native function of α-synuclein is thought to involve regulation of synaptic vesicle trafficking. Recent work has also implicated a role in neurotransmission, possibly through interactions with the proteins involved in synaptic vesicle fusion. Here, we demonstrate that α-synuclein inhibits SNARE-mediated vesicle fusion through binding the membrane, without a direct interaction between α-synuclein and any of the SNARE proteins. This work supports a model in which α-synuclein plays a role in the regulation of vesicle fusion by modulating properties of the lipid bilayer.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008051	Lipid Bilayers	Layers of lipid molecules which are two molecules thick. Bilayer systems are frequently studied as models of biological membranes.	Bilayers, Lipid,Bilayer, Lipid,Lipid Bilayer
D008561	Membrane Fusion	The adherence and merging of cell membranes, intracellular membranes, or artificial membranes to each other or to viruses, parasites, or interstitial particles through a variety of chemical and physical processes.	Fusion, Membrane,Fusions, Membrane,Membrane Fusions
D011994	Recombinant Proteins	Proteins prepared by recombinant DNA technology.	Biosynthetic Protein,Biosynthetic Proteins,DNA Recombinant Proteins,Recombinant Protein,Proteins, Biosynthetic,Proteins, Recombinant DNA,DNA Proteins, Recombinant,Protein, Biosynthetic,Protein, Recombinant,Proteins, DNA Recombinant,Proteins, Recombinant,Recombinant DNA Proteins,Recombinant Proteins, DNA
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D050600	SNARE Proteins	A superfamily of small proteins which are involved in the MEMBRANE FUSION events, intracellular protein trafficking and secretory processes. They share a homologous SNARE motif. The SNARE proteins are divided into subfamilies: QA-SNARES; QB-SNARES; QC-SNARES; and R-SNARES. The formation of a SNARE complex (composed of one each of the four different types SNARE domains (Qa, Qb, Qc, and R)) mediates MEMBRANE FUSION. Following membrane fusion SNARE complexes are dissociated by the NSFs (N-ETHYLMALEIMIDE-SENSITIVE FACTORS), in conjunction with SOLUBLE NSF ATTACHMENT PROTEIN, i.e., SNAPs (no relation to SNAP 25.)	SNAP Receptor,SNARE Protein,NSF Attachment Protein Receptor,Receptor, SNAP,SNAP Receptors,SNARE,SNAREs,Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-Sensitive-Factor Attachment Protein Receptor,Target Membrane SNARE Proteins,Target SNARE Proteins,Vesicle SNARE Proteins,Vesicular SNARE Proteins,t-SNARE,tSNAREs,v-SNARE,v-SNAREs,Protein, SNARE,SNARE Proteins, Target,SNARE Proteins, Vesicle,SNARE Proteins, Vesicular,Soluble N ethylmaleimide Sensitive Factor Attachment Protein Receptor,v SNAREs
D051844	alpha-Synuclein	A synuclein that is a major component of LEWY BODIES and plays a role in SYNUCLEINOPATHIES, neurodegeneration and neuroprotection.	Non-AB Component of AD Amyloid Protein,Non AB Component of AD Amyloid Protein,alpha Synuclein