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Calcium binding at the C-terminus of α-synuclein modulates synaptic vesicle interaction

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Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Kaminski, GS 
Lautenschlager, Janin 
Stephens, Amberley Stephens  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7303-6392
Fusco, Giuliana 

Abstract

Alpha-synuclein is known to bind to small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) via its N-terminus which forms an amphipathic alpha-helix upon membrane interaction. Here we show that calcium binds to the C-terminus of alpha-synuclein, therewith increasing its lipid binding capacity. Using CEST-NMR we reveal that alpha-synuclein interacts with isolated synaptic vesicles with two regions, the N-terminus, already known from studies on SUVs, and additionally via its C-terminus, which is regulated by the binding of calcium. Indeed, dSTORM on synaptosomes shows that calcium mediates the localization of alpha-synuclein at the presynaptic terminal, and an imbalance in calcium or alpha-synuclein can cause synaptic vesicle clustering, as seen ex vivo and in vitro. This study provides a new view on the binding of alpha-synuclein to synaptic vesicles, which might also affect our understanding of synucleinopathies.

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Nature Communications

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Springer Nature

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Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (089703/Z/09/Z)
Medical Research Council (MR/N012453/1)
Wellcome Trust (203249/Z/16/Z)
EPSRC (1635015)