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Novel suppressors of alpha-synuclein toxicity identified using yeast.

Human molecular genetics | 2008

The mechanism by which the Parkinson's disease-related protein alpha-synuclein (alpha-syn) causes neurodegeneration has not been elucidated. To determine the genes that protect cells from alpha-syn, we used a genetic screen to identify suppressors of the super sensitivity of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing alpha-syn to killing by hydrogen peroxide. Forty genes in ubiquitin-dependent protein catabolism, protein biosynthesis, vesicle trafficking and the response to stress were identified. Five of the forty genes--ENT3, IDP3, JEM1, ARG2 and HSP82--ranked highest in their ability to block alpha-syn-induced reactive oxygen species accumulation, and these five genes were characterized in more detail. The deletion of any of these five genes enhanced the toxicity of alpha-syn as judged by growth defects compared with wild-type cells expressing alpha-syn, which indicates that these genes protect cells from alpha-syn. Strikingly, four of the five genes are specific for alpha-syn in that they fail to protect cells from the toxicity of the two inherited mutants A30P or A53T. This finding suggests that alpha-syn causes toxicity to cells through a different pathway than these two inherited mutants. Lastly, overexpression of Ent3p, which is a clathrin adapter protein involved in protein transport between the Golgi and the vacuole, causes alpha-syn to redistribute from the plasma membrane into cytoplasmic vesicular structures. Our interpretation is that Ent3p mediates the transport of alpha-syn to the vacuole for proteolytic degradation. A similar clathrin adaptor protein, epsinR, exists in humans.

Pubmed ID: 18772193 RIS Download

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Associated grants

  • Agency: NINDS NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R21 NS053678
  • Agency: NINDS NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R21 NS053678-02
  • Agency: NINDS NIH HHS, United States
    Id: 1R21NS053678
  • Agency: NINDS NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R01NS057656

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SGD (tool)

RRID:SCR_004694

A curated database that provides comprehensive integrated biological information for Saccharomyces cerevisiae along with search and analysis tools to explore these data. SGD allows researchers to discover functional relationships between sequence and gene products in fungi and higher organisms. The SGD also maintains the S. cerevisiae Gene Name Registry, a complete list of all gene names used in S. cerevisiae which includes a set of general guidelines to gene naming. Protein Page provides basic protein information calculated from the predicted sequence and contains links to a variety of secondary structure and tertiary structure resources. Yeast Biochemical Pathways allows users to view and search for biochemical reactions and pathways that occur in S. cerevisiae as well as map expression data onto the biochemical pathways. Literature citations are provided where available.

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