Methionine Oxidation, α-synuclein and Parkinson's Disease

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2005

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbapap.2004.10.008

Abstract

The aggregation of normally soluble α-synuclein in the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra is a crucial step in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Oxidative stress is believed to be a contributing factor in this disorder. Because it lacks Trp and Cys residues, mild oxidation of α-synuclein in vitro with hydrogen peroxide selectively converts all four methionine residues to the corresponding sulfoxides. Both oxidized and non-oxidized α-synucleins have similar unfolded conformations; however, the fibrillation of α-synuclein at physiological pH is completely inhibited by methionine oxidation. The inhibition results from stabilization of soluble oligomers of Met-oxidized α-synuclein. Furthermore, the Met-oxidized protein also inhibits fibrillation of unmodified α-synuclein. The degree of inhibition of fibrillation by Met-oxidized α-synuclein is proportional to the number of oxidized methionines. However, the presence of metals can completely overcome the inhibition of fibrillation of the Met-oxidized α-synuclein. Since oligomers of aggregated α-synuclein may be cytotoxic, these findings indicate that both oxidative stress and environmental metal pollution could play an important role in the aggregation of α-synuclein, and hence possibly Parkinson's disease. In addition, if the level of Met-oxidized α-synuclein was under the control of methionine sulfoxide reductase (Msr), then this could also be factor in the disease.

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Citation / Publisher Attribution

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Proteins and Proteomics, v. 1703, issue 2, p. 157-169

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