C-terminal truncation of α-synuclein alters DNA structure from extension to compaction
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2021

Parkinson's disease (PD) is linked to aggregation of the protein α-synuclein (aS) into amyloid fibers. aS is proposed to regulate synaptic activity and may also play a role in gene regulation via interaction with DNA in the cell nucleus. Here, we address the role of the negatively-charged C-terminus in the interaction between aS and DNA using single-molecule techniques. Using nanofluidic channels, we demonstrate that truncation of the C-terminus of aS induces differential effects on DNA depending on the extent of the truncation. The DNA extension increases for full-length aS and the (1–119)aS variant, but decreases about 25% upon binding to the (1–97)aS variant. Atomic force microscopy imaging showed full protein coverage of the DNA at high aS concentration. The characterization of biophysical properties of DNA when in complex with aS variants may provide important insights into the role of such interactions in PD, especially since C-terminal aS truncations have been found in clinical samples from PD patients.

Atomic force microscopy

α-synuclein

DNA-protein binding

Single-molecule studies

Nanofluidic channel

Författare

Kai Jiang

Chalmers, Biologi och bioteknik, Kemisk biologi

Sandra Rocha

Chalmers, Biologi och bioteknik, Kemisk biologi

Ranjeet Kumar

Chalmers, Biologi och bioteknik, Kemisk biologi

Fredrik Westerlund

Chalmers, Biologi och bioteknik, Kemisk biologi

Pernilla Wittung Stafshede

Chalmers, Biologi och bioteknik, Kemisk biologi

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

0006-291X (ISSN) 1090-2104 (eISSN)

Vol. 568 43-47

Ämneskategorier

Biokemi och molekylärbiologi

Biofysik

Medicinsk bioteknologi (med inriktning mot cellbiologi (inklusive stamcellsbiologi), molekylärbiologi, mikrobiologi, biokemi eller biofarmaci)

DOI

10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.06.059

Mer information

Senast uppdaterat

2021-07-22