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Updated: May 11, 2026

Utilizing Time-Resolved Protein-Induced Fluorescence Enhancement to Identify Stable Local Conformations One α-Synuclein Monomer at a Time
Published on: May 30, 2021
The remarkable conformational plasticity of alpha-synuclein: blessing or curse?
Angélique Deleersnijder1, Melanie Gerard, Zeger Debyser
1Laboratory for Neurobiology and Gene Therapy, Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Research Institute for Neuroscience and Disease (LIND), KU Leuven, Flanders, Belgium.
Abstract:
The aggregation of the protein alpha-synuclein (α-SYN) is believed to be a critical event in Parkinson's disease (PD). α-SYN is characterized by a remarkable conformational plasticity, adopting different conformations depending on the environment. In vitro, α-SYN lacks a well-defined structure. Therefore, it was classified as an 'intrinsically disordered protein'. A debate has recently begun over how α-SYN behaves in the cell: is it an intrinsically disordered protein or a stable tetramer with a low propensity for aggregation? In this review, we discuss the aggregation of α-SYN and describe factors that influence this process and their potential relevance in PD pathogenesis. We address the ways in which aggregated α-SYN mediates toxicity and might lead to PD, and propose possible therapeutic strategies.
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