Synuclein | |||||||||
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Identifiers | |||||||||
Symbol | Synuclein | ||||||||
Pfam | PF01387 | ||||||||
InterPro | IPR001058 | ||||||||
SCOP | 1xq8 | ||||||||
SUPERFAMILY | 1xq8 | ||||||||
OPM superfamily | 159 | ||||||||
OPM protein | 1xq8 | ||||||||
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Available protein structures: | |
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Pfam | structures |
PDB | RCSB PDB; PDBe; PDBj |
PDBsum | structure summary |
Synucleins are a family of soluble proteins common to vertebrates, primarily expressed in neural tissue and in certain tumors.
The synuclein family includes three known proteins: alpha-synuclein, beta-synuclein, and gamma-synuclein. Interest in the synuclein family began when alpha-synuclein was found to be mutated in several families with autosomal dominant Parkinson's disease.
All synucleins have in common a highly conserved alpha-helical lipid-binding motif with similarity to the class-A2 lipid-binding domains of the exchangeable apolipoproteins. Synuclein family members are not found outside vertebrates, although they have some conserved structural similarity with plant 'late-embryo-abundant' proteins.
Normal cellular functions have not been determined for any of the synuclein proteins. Some data suggest a role in the regulation of membrane stability and/or turnover. Mutations in alpha-synuclein are associated with early-onset familial Parkinson's disease and the protein aggregates abnormally in Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases. The gamma-synuclein protein's expression in breast tumors is a marker for tumor progression.