Parkinsons Disease

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Parkinsons Disease

• Alpha Synuclein

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What is it?

• A protein present in presynaptic nerve terminals
  in the brain
• Coded for by the SNCA gene on chromosome 4q21
• Is involved in synaptic plasticity, regulation of
  dopamine release and fatty acid transport

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When the SNCA gene is faulty

• AS clusters and forms the main component of Lewy
  bodies, via this pathway
• AS monomer ... protofibrillary oligomers
  
• fibrils Lewy bodies
• Lewy bodies cause dopamine cell death

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The Mutation

• Variation within the AS promoter sequence makes
  the DNA more susceptible to mutation
• Either a point mutation or a triplication in the
  SNCA gene can occur
• A study has shown that triplication can cause a
  devastating form of PD

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Environmental factors..

• In a study rats were exposed to a steady dose of
  a common pesticide and they developed clusters of
  AS in their brain tissue and some signs of PD.
• Researchers suspect that these pesticides may
  provoke internal chemical reactions in the human
  brain that produce unstable free radicals, which
  could latch onto AS and create havoc
• Supporting this is a study that found the AS in
  Parkinsons brain deposits has free radical
  damage