Lack of alpha-synuclein does not alter apoptosis of neonatal catecholaminergic neurons

The European Journal of Neuroscience
Leonidas StefanisWilliam T Dauer

Abstract

alpha-Synuclein is an abundant neuronal protein of uncertain function linked to Parkinson's disease. Numerous studies have proposed an antiapoptotic function for alpha-synuclein, based on overexpression experiments in cell lines. To explore whether alpha-synuclein has such a physiological function, we assessed the response of wild type or alpha-synuclein null neonatal mouse sympathetic neurons to nerve growth factor deprivation, a well-characterized stimulus of neuronal apoptosis. There was no difference in the rate of neuronal loss, neuronal apoptosis, or c-jun phosphorylation. Furthermore, the absence of alpha-synuclein did not alter the magnitude of naturally occurring cell death in vivo in substantia nigra pars compacta. Therefore, alpha-synuclein is unlikely to play a significant role in apoptotic signalling in catecholaminergic neurons of the neonatal nervous system.

References

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Jul 13, 2004·Molecular Neurobiology·Kostas VekrellisLeonidas Stefanis

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Citations

Jan 24, 2009·Apoptosis : an International Journal on Programmed Cell Death·Oren A LevyLloyd A Greene
Feb 23, 2012·Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine·Leonidas Stefanis
Jul 20, 2007·Journal of Neurochemistry·Barbara MontiAntonio Contestabile

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