Structural dynamics of α-Synuclein: Multi-scale imaging insights into pathological progression across...

The misfolding and aberrant aggregation of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) constitute the central pathological hallmark of a spectrum of synucleinopathies, including Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and multiple system atrophy. A continuous ultrastructural conformational evolution from disordered monomers through toxic oligomers to amyloid fibrils is linked to the formation of Lewy pathology and the progressive functional decline of neurons. This review integrates structural dynamics revealed by multi-scale electron microscopy (EM) techniques-including transmission electron microscopy, immunoelectron microscopy, cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM)/cryo-electron tomography, correlative light and electron microscopy, and volume electron microscopy-to systematically delineate the polymorphic spectrum of α-syn assemblies during pathogenesis. This spectrum spans liquid-liquid phase separation-associated condensate precursors and membrane-active toxic intermediates to stable fibrillar and inclusion structures. High-resolution cryo-EM studies have identified disease-specific "structural strains" across synucleinopathies, indicating that genetic variations, disease context, and microenvironmental factors collectively shape distinct atomic conformations that likely correlate with differential toxicity, propagation potential, and clinical phenotypes. EM evidence at the cellular level further elucidates the morphological associations between α-syn aggregates and disruption of synaptic vesicle homeostasis, mitochondrial structural damage, and impairment of the lysosomal-autophagic pathway. Contextualizing these findings within the spatiotemporal progression pattern outlined by the Braak staging system, this article examines the evolution of dominant structural morphologies across disease stages and their pathological significance. It also looks ahead to how in situ three-dimensional imaging technologies are driving a paradigm shift from analyzing "static in vitro structures" to deciphering "dynamic intracellular networks." Finally, the review identifies the core challenge: establishing a verifiable mapping between in vitro-resolved structures and in situ pathological states, and linking structural classifications to specific molecular mechanisms and phenotypic endpoints. This endeavor is crucial for providing a theoretical foundation for developing precise intervention strategies targeting specific pathogenic conformations or propagation nodes.