Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 19, 2026
07:46
Gait Analysis of Age-dependent Motor Impairments in Mice with Neurodegeneration
Published on: June 18, 2018
12.8K
Link between the SNCA gene and parkinsonism.
Wei Xu1, Lan Tan2, Jin-Tai Yu2
1Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, School of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.
Neurobiology of Aging
|January 3, 2015
Summary
Mutations in the SNCA gene are linked to Parkinson's disease (PD) pathogenesis. Targeting SNCA offers promising therapeutic strategies for parkinsonism and related Lewy body disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) etiology is increasingly understood through genetic factors.
- SNCA gene mutations are linked to rare familial PD and sporadic PD risk.
- SNCA encodes alpha-synuclein, a key component of Lewy bodies, pathognomonic of PD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the biological characteristics of wild-type alpha-synuclein (wt-α-synuclein).
- To review genetic and epigenetic features of the SNCA gene in PD.
- To explore SNCA's role in PD pathogenesis and its potential as a therapeutic target.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on SNCA gene and alpha-synuclein protein.
- Analysis of genetic and epigenetic factors associated with PD.
- Correlation of SNCA mutations with clinical and neuropathological phenotypes.
Main Results:
- SNCA gene mutations and wt-α-synuclein overexpression are implicated in PD pathogenesis.
- SNCA is associated with other Lewy body disorders like dementia with Lewy bodies and multiple system atrophy.
- SNCA influences clinical and neuropathological phenotypes in PD.
Conclusions:
- SNCA plays a significant role in PD pathogenesis through various mechanisms.
- Targeting SNCA is a promising strategy for developing novel therapeutic approaches for parkinsonism.
- Translating SNCA research into clinical practice is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Parkinson Disease l: Introduction
3
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects movement. It is characterized by motor symptoms such as resting tremors, muscle rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and postural instability. Patients may notice hand tremors at rest, stiffness during movement, or a shuffling gait. In addition to motor features, non-motor symptoms include sleep disturbances, mood and behavioral changes, constipation, and cognitive impairment, all of...
3
01:24Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology
4
Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting movement, with additional non-motor features. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and cellular dysfunction, including dopaminergic neuron loss, protein aggregation, and mitochondrial impairment.Selective NeurodegenerationA key feature is the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to reduced...
4
01:37Neural Regulation
45.2K
Digestion begins with a cephalic phase that prepares the digestive system to receive food. When our brain processes visual or olfactory information about food, it triggers impulses in the cranial nerves innervating the salivary glands and stomach to prepare for food.
45.2K
01:05Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs
20.4K
A single nucleotide polymorphism or SNP is a single nucleotide variation at a specific genomic position in a large population. It is the most prevalent type of sequence variation found in the human genome. Point mutations that occur in more than 1% of the population qualify as SNPs. These are present once every 1000 nucleotides on an average in the human genome. Replacement of a purine with another purine (A/G) or a pyrimidine with another pyrimidine (C/T) is known as a transition. In contrast,...
20.4K
01:15Parkinson's Disease: Overview
2.5K
Neurodegenerative disorders are progressive diseases that cause irreversible damage and loss to neurons in specific brain areas. Examples of these disorders include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). These disorders share characteristics such as proteinopathies, selective neuronal vulnerability, and a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The primary therapeutic goal for these conditions is...
2.5K
02:26Comparing Copy Number Variations and SNPs
19.4K
Sequencing of the human genome has opened up several best-kept secrets of the genome. Scientists have identified thousands of genome variations that exist within a population. These variations can be a single nucleotide or a larger chromosomal variation.
Copy number variations or CNVs are the structural variations that cover more than 1kb of DNA sequence. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), on the other hand, is a single nucleotide change or a point mutation that is found in more than 1%...
Copy number variations or CNVs are the structural variations that cover more than 1kb of DNA sequence. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), on the other hand, is a single nucleotide change or a point mutation that is found in more than 1%...
19.4K