alpha-synuclein and dopamine-quinone

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by an abnormal post-translational modifications (PTM) in amino acid sequence and aggregation of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) protein. It is generally believed that dopamine (DA) metabolite in dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons promotes the aggregation of toxic α-Syn oligomers and protofibrils, whereas DA inhibits the formation of toxic fibers and even degrades the toxic fibers. Therefore, the study on interaction between DA metabolites and α-Syn oligomers is one of the current hot topics in neuroscience, because this effect may have direct relevance to the selective DAergic neuron loss in PD. Several mechanisms have been reported for DA metabolites induced α-Syn oligomers viz. i) The reactive oxygen species (ROS) released during the auto-oxidation or enzymatic oxidation of DA changes the structure of α-Syn by the oxidation of amino acid residue leading to misfolding, ii) The oxidized DA metabolites directly interact with α-Syn through covalent or non-covalent bonding leading to the formation of oligomers, iii) DA interacts with lipid or autophagy related proteins to decreases the degradation efficiency of α-Syn aggregates. However, there is no clear-cut mechanism proposed for the interaction between DA and α-Syn. However, it is believed that the lysine (Lys) side chain of α-Syn sequence is the initial trigger site for the oligomer formation. Herein, we review different chemical mechanism involved during the interaction of Lys side chain of α-Syn with DA metabolites such as dopamine-o-quinone (DAQ), dopamine-chrome (DAC), dopamine-aldehyde (DOPAL) and neuromelanin. This review also provides the promotive effect of divalent Cu

Topics: alpha-Synuclein; Antioxidants; Dopamine; Humans; Parkinson Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide and is characterized for being an idiopathic and multifactorial disease. Extensive research has been conducted to explain the origin of the disease, but it still remains elusive. It is well known that dopamine oxidation, through the endogenous formation of toxic metabolites, is a key process in the activation of a cascade of molecular events that leads to cellular death in the hallmark of PD. Thio-catecholamines, such as 5-S-cysteinyl-dopamine, 5-S-glutathionyl-dopamine and derived benzothiazines, are endogenous metabolites formed in the dopamine oxidative degradation pathway. Those metabolites have been shown to be highly toxic to neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, activating molecular mechanisms that ultimately lead to neuronal death. In this review we describe the origin, formation and the toxic effects of 5-S-cysteinyl-dopamine and its oxidative derivatives that cause death to dopaminergic neurons. Furthermore, we correlate the formation of those metabolites with the neurodegeneration progress in PD. In addition, we present the reported neuroprotective strategies of products that protect against the cellular damage of those thio-catecholamines. Finally, we discuss the advantages in the use of 5-S-cysteinyl-dopamine as a potential biomarker for PD.

Topics: alpha-Synuclein; Biomarkers; Dopamine; Dopaminergic Neurons; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress; Humans; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Mitochondria; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Neuroprotective Agents; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidative Stress; Parkinson Disease; Pars Compacta; Sulfur

Levodopa is the most effective medication for Parkinson's disease (PD). In contrast, there is evidence that levodopa and its metabolites such as dopa/dopamine quinone are toxic for nigral neurons based on in vitro studies. Moreover, there is growing evidence that oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction contribute the pathogenesis of PD. Thus, studies for oxidative stress give us good information for elucidating the pathogenesis of PD. In this regard, it is mandatory to develop markers such as 4-hydroxy-nonenal (HNE). HNE is a product of lipid peroxidation. Indeed, immunohistochemical studies have revealed that HNE-modified proteins accumulate within ragged red fibers (RRFs). This finding indicated that mitochondrial impairment may be linked to oxidative stress. Moreover, HNE-modified proteins accumulate in nigral neurons. In PD, mitochondrial dysfunction such as complex I deficiency has also been reported. In addition, HNE can modify alpha-synuclein (SNCA). Subsequently, this modification may trigger the aggregation of this protein. At a minimum, this modification could be associated with oligomer formation or fibrillation of SNCA.

Topics: Aldehydes; alpha-Synuclein; Animals; Dopamine; Humans; Levodopa; Mitochondria; Oxidative Stress; Parkinson Disease

Lewy body diseases such as Parkinson's disease involve intraneuronal deposition of the protein

Topics: 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; Acetylcysteine; alpha-Synuclein; Antioxidants; Cell Line; Copper; Dopamine; Humans; Monoamine Oxidase; Monophenol Monooxygenase; Oligodendroglia; Oxidation-Reduction; Parkinson Disease; Protein Binding; Protein Conformation; Tolcapone

This paper presents a detailed systems model of Parkinson's disease (PD), developed utilizing a pragmatic application of biochemical systems theory (BST) intended to assist experimentalists in the study of system behavior. This approach utilizes relative values as a reasonable initial estimate for BST and provides a theoretical means of applying numerical solutions to qualitative and semi-quantitative understandings of cellular pathways and mechanisms. The approach allows for the simulation of human disease through its ability to organize and integrate existing information about metabolic pathways without having a full quantitative description of those pathways, so that hypotheses about individual processes may be tested in a systems environment. Incorporating this method, the PD model describes alpha-synuclein aggregation as mediated by dopamine metabolism, the ubiquitin-proteasome system, and lysosomal degradation, allowing for the examination of dynamic pathway interactions and the evaluation of possible toxic mechanisms in the aggregation process. Four system perturbations: elevated alpha-synuclein aggregation, impaired dopamine packaging, increased neurotoxins, and alpha-synuclein overexpression, were analyzed for correlation to qualitative PD system hypotheses present in the literature, with the model demonstrating a high level of agreement with these hypotheses. Additionally, various PD treatment methods, including levadopa and monoamine oxidase inhibition (MAOI) therapy, were applied to the disease models to examine their effects on the system. Future additions and refinements to the model may further the understanding of the emergent behaviors of the disease, helping in the identification of system sensitivities and possible therapeutic targets.

Topics: alpha-Synuclein; Amyloid; Antiparkinson Agents; Computer Simulation; Dopamine; Gene Expression; Humans; Levodopa; Lewy Bodies; Lysosomes; Models, Neurological; Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; Neurotoxins; Parkinson Disease; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Reactive Oxygen Species; Systems Theory; Ubiquitin

Parkin, a product of Park2 gene, is an important player in the pathogenic process of Parkinson's disease (PD). Despite numerous studies including search for the substrate of parkin, the mechanism by which loss-of-function of parkin induces selective dopaminergic neuronal death remains unclear. Here we show that antisense knockdown of parkin causes apoptotic cell death of human dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells associated with caspase activation and accompanied by accumulation of oxidative dopamine (DA) metabolites due to auto-oxidation of DOPA and DA. Forced expression of alpha-synuclein (alpha-SN), another familial PD gene product, prevented accumulation of oxidative DOPA/DA metabolites and cell death caused by parkin loss. Our findings indicate that both parkin and alpha-SN share a common pathway in DA metabolism whose abnormality leads to accumulation of oxidative DA metabolites and subsequent cell death. In addition, we identified a phosphorylated form of IkappaBalpha (pIkappaBalpha), an inhibitor of the NF-kappaB signaling pathway, and the components of the SCF(beta-TrCP), ubiquitin ligase of pIkappaBalpha, are novel protein components in LBs. Subsequently, we showed those proteins are included in the ubiquitin-LB-like inclusions generated by treatment of a proteasome inhibitor. Furthermore, the generation of the inclusions are independent on cell death due to impairment of the proteasome.

Topics: alpha-Synuclein; Animals; Apoptosis; Cells, Cultured; Dihydroxyphenylalanine; Dopamine; Humans; I-kappa B Proteins; Lewy Bodies; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; Parkinson Disease; Phosphorylation; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases