Lint: synucleinopathy-1

"α-synuclein is a neuronal protein of unclear function which accounts for approximately 1% of brain weight ¹. This protein is typically soluble and localised in pre-synaptic terminals. However, in synucleinopathies there is an initial misfolding of α-synuclein from either environmental factors or genetic predisposition ⁵. This misfolding causes them to become insoluble, and induce misfolding of other α-synuclein proteins leading to aggregation into inclusion bodies similar to prions ⁶. It is suspected that the accumulation of inclusion bodies impairs synaptic functions and contributes to neuronal death ⁷."