Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 6, 2026
09:44
Generation of Alpha-Synuclein Preformed Fibrils from Monomers and Use In Vivo
Published on: June 2, 2019
22.6K
Alpha-Synuclein Modulates the Physical Properties of DNA
Kai Jiang1, Sandra Rocha1, Alvina Westling1
1Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Chemistry (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|August 14, 2018
Summary
Alpha-synuclein (aS) interacts with DNA, influencing its structure and potentially its gene-regulatory functions. Understanding these interactions is crucial for Parkinson's disease (PD) research.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Molecular Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) research often focuses on alpha-synuclein (aS) aggregation and neurotoxicity.
- Emerging evidence suggests aS may have a role in gene regulation within the cell nucleus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction between monomeric aS and DNA in vitro.
- To characterize the biophysical properties of DNA-aS complexes.
Main Methods:
- Single-molecule techniques
- Nanofluidic channel system
- Atomic force microscopy (AFM)
Main Results:
- aS binds to DNA, increasing its persistence length from 70 to 90 nm at high coverage.
- At low aS concentration, binding occurs in scattered clusters; at high concentration, DNA is fully covered.
- Characterized the biophysical properties of DNA-aS complexes.
Conclusions:
- Monomeric aS interacts with DNA, altering its physical properties.
- These DNA-aS interactions may be relevant to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.
- Further characterization of these complexes is important for understanding PD.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:57Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter
166.6K
The characteristics that enable us to distinguish one substance from another are called properties.
166.6K
01:26Physical Properties of Amines
4.2K
Amines with low molecular weight are usually gaseous at room temperature, while those with high molecular weight are liquid or solids in nature. Usually, low molecular weight amines have a rotten fish-like smell. Diamines typically have a pungent smell. For instance, cadaverine and putrescine, depicted in Figure 1, are two molecules responsible for decaying tissue.
4.2K
02:19Physical Properties Affecting Solubility
26.6K
Solutions of Gases in Liquids
As for any solution, the solubility of a gas in a liquid is affected by the attractive intermolecular forces between solute and solvent species. Unlike solid and liquid solutes, however, there is no solute-solute intermolecular attraction to overcome when a gaseous solute dissolves in a liquid solvent since the atoms or molecules comprising a gas are far separated and experience negligible interactions. Consequently, solute-solvent interactions are the sole...
As for any solution, the solubility of a gas in a liquid is affected by the attractive intermolecular forces between solute and solvent species. Unlike solid and liquid solutes, however, there is no solute-solute intermolecular attraction to overcome when a gaseous solute dissolves in a liquid solvent since the atoms or molecules comprising a gas are far separated and experience negligible interactions. Consequently, solute-solvent interactions are the sole...
26.6K
02:33Physical Properties of Alkanes
14.8K
Alkanes are nonpolar molecules due to the presence of only carbon and hydrogen atoms. The electronegativity difference between carbon and hydrogen is minimal, and hence alkanes have a zero dipole moment. This leads to the presence of only dispersion forces between the molecules. The strength of dispersion forces is dependent on the surface area of the molecules on which they act. Since the surface area increases with the molecular length for straight-chain alkanes, the dispersion forces also...
14.8K
02:17Physical Properties of Ethers
8.5K
Overview
An ether molecule has a net dipole moment due to the polarity of C–O bonds. Subsequently, boiling points of ethers are lower than those of alcohols of comparable molecular weight and slightly higher than those of hydrocarbons of comparable molecular weight (Table 1).
Ethers can act as hydrogen bond acceptors, making them more water-soluble than hydrocarbons, but since ethers cannot act as hydrogen bond donors, they are much less soluble in water than alcohols. Ethers are considered...
An ether molecule has a net dipole moment due to the polarity of C–O bonds. Subsequently, boiling points of ethers are lower than those of alcohols of comparable molecular weight and slightly higher than those of hydrocarbons of comparable molecular weight (Table 1).
Ethers can act as hydrogen bond acceptors, making them more water-soluble than hydrocarbons, but since ethers cannot act as hydrogen bond donors, they are much less soluble in water than alcohols. Ethers are considered...
8.5K
01:18Urine: Physical and Chemical Properties
3.9K
Urine comprises approximately 95% water and 5% solutes. The primary ingredient, apart from water, is urea - a byproduct of the breakdown of amino acids. Other notable components include uric acid, a residue from nucleic acid metabolism, and creatinine, a metabolite from creatine phosphate breakdown in skeletal muscle tissue.
The concentration of these solutes varies, with urea being the most abundant nitrogenous waste product. Other solutes include sodium, chloride, potassium, phosphate,...
The concentration of these solutes varies, with urea being the most abundant nitrogenous waste product. Other solutes include sodium, chloride, potassium, phosphate,...
3.9K