Effects of Site-Specific Glycation on α-Synuclein

Glycation of α-synuclein (αSyn) by methylglyoxal (MGO) has been implicated as a pathologic mechanism in Parkinson's disease. However, mechanistic understanding has been limited so far by the heterogeneity of chemically MGO-modified αSyn. We developed and applied two complementary semisynthetic strategies based on native chemical ligation for site-specific incorporation of N^ε-carboxyethyllysine (CEL), a major advanced glycation endproduct formed by MGO. Using this approach, we generated a panel of 11 αSyn variants bearing CEL modifications at defined positions in the N-terminal region. Single CEL modifications did not alter the intrinsically disordered nature of αSyn, but significantly reduced membrane-induced folding upon interaction with anionic phospholipid vesicles. Aggregation analyses using dynamic light scattering, thioflavin T fluorescence, and sedimentation assays revealed stabilization of small αSyn oligomers and attenuation of fibril formation. Moreover, distinct changes in aggregate morphology were induced by specific CEL modifications. Consistent with these effects, several CEL-modified αSyn variants exhibited a site-dependent reduction in seeding capacity compared to wild-type aggregates, with K10CEL as a notable exception that retained seeding activity. In summary, our results demonstrate that single CEL modifications efficiently modulate αSyn function and aggregation. The semisynthetic platform established here enables elucidation of glycation effects on αSyn and provides a general framework for studying the effects of AGEs in synucleinopathies.