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α-Synuclein-induced membrane remodeling is driven by binding affinity, partition depth, and interleaflet order
Anthony R Braun1, Michael M Lacy, Vanessa C Ducas
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States.
The N-terminal domain of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn100) tubulates pure lipid vesicles, but not mixed ones. This membrane remodeling is crucial for understanding protein-lipid interactions.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Molecular Biology
- Membrane Protein Interactions
Background:
- Alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) is implicated in neurodegenerative diseases.
- The N-terminal domain (α-Syn100) is key for membrane binding.
- Understanding α-Syn's membrane remodeling is vital.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the membrane remodeling capacity of α-Syn100.
- Determine the role of lipid composition in α-Syn-induced membrane tubulation.
- Elucidate the molecular mechanisms driving membrane tubulation by α-Syn.
Main Methods:
- Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS).
- Vesicle clearance assays.
- Coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.
Main Results:
- α-Syn100 fully tubulates pure POPG vesicles.
- α-Syn shows reduced affinity and no tubulation for POPG:POPC mixtures.
- MD simulations reveal lipid composition impacts protein partition depth and membrane properties.
- A NAC-domain variant shows reduced binding and tubulation, linked to increased protein mobility.
Conclusions:
- The amphipathic helix of α-Syn100 alone can induce membrane tubulation.
- Lipid composition significantly influences α-Syn's membrane interaction and remodeling.
- Interleaflet coupling and leaflet symmetry contribute to tubulation energetics.
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