Cited by 598Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and TreatmentsNuclear Receptors and SignalingNeurological disorders and treatments

A Role for α-Synuclein in the Regulation of Dopamine Biosynthesis

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Perez, Ruth G., Waymire, Jack C., Lin, Eva, Liu, Jen J., Guo, Fengli, Zigmond, Michael J.·2002·The Journal of Neuroscience

Abstract

The α-synuclein gene is implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson9s disease. Although α-synuclein function is uncertain, the protein has homology to the chaperone molecule 14-3-3. In addition, α-synuclein can bind to 14-3-3, and both α-synuclein and 14-3-3 bind to many of the same proteins. Because 14-3-3 binds to and activates tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in dopamine (DA) biosynthesis, we explored whether α-synuclein also bound to tyrosine hydroxylase and influenced its activity. Immunoprecipitation revealed an interaction between α-synuclein and tyrosine hydroxylase in brain homogenates and MN9D dopaminergic cells. Colocalization of α-synuclein with tyrosine hydroxylase was confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy. To explore the consequences of the interaction, we measured the effect of recombinant α-synuclein on tyrosine hydroxylase activity in a cell-free system and observed a dose-dependent inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase by α-synuclein. To measure the impact of α-synuclein on tyrosine hydroxylase in dopaminergic cells, we stably transfected MN9D cells with wild-type or A53T mutant α-synuclein. Overexpression of wild-type or A53T mutant α-synuclein did not significantly alter tyrosine hydroxylase protein levels in our stably transfected cells. However, overexpressing cell lines had significantly reduced tyrosine hydroxylase activity and a corresponding reduction in dopamine synthesis. The reduction in cellular dopamine levels was not caused by increased dopamine catabolism or dopamine efflux. These data suggest that α-synuclein plays a role in the regulation of dopamine biosynthesis, acting to reduce the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase. If so, a loss of soluble α-synuclein, by reduced expression or aggregation, could increase dopamine synthesis with an accompanying increase in reactive dopamine metabolites.

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Crossref · 10.1523/jneurosci.22-08-03090.2002

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  1. El-Agnaf OM, Irvine GB (2000) Review: formation and properties of amyloid-like fibrils derived from alpha-synuclein and related proteins. J Struct Biol 130:300 -309.

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Authors
Perez, R. G., Waymire, J. C., Lin, E., Liu, J. J., Guo, F., & Zigmond, M. J.
Affiliations
  • The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (US)
  • University of Pittsburgh (US)
Venue
The Journal of Neuroscience
Published
2002-04-15
Volume
22
Issue
8
Pages
3090-3099
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
OpenAlex
W4319425454
Cited by
598
References
47
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 31 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 38 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 13
FWCI
18.03
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Parkinson Foundation
  • Parkinsonfonden
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS 19608)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Nuclear Receptors and Signaling
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Neurological disorders and treatments
Keywords
alpha-synuclein, dopamine synthesis, tyrosine hydroxylase, Parkinson's disease, protein-protein interaction, A53T mutant, dopaminergic neurons, MN9D cells, enzyme inhibition, dopamine metabolites

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