Hayat Ashraf

Many Parkinson’s disease researchers are focused on reducing the prevalence of Synuclein alpha (SNCA) proteins in neurons as a therapeutic measure.  About Synuclein alpha (SNCA) proteins: It is a mysterious protein which is present in healthy cells. It is notorious for its involvement in age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Features of SNCA:  It is abundant in neurons, especially in dopaminergic neurons. It is found near the nuclei of these cells and at the junctions between two neurons. It’s capable of misfolding as well as forming filamentous structures. So unlike most other proteins, which take up predictable three-dimensional structures, SNCA can fold in multiple ways. Misfolded proteins don’t function correctly. SNCA is present in 2 ways as aggregates in cells: one that interferes with the structural integrity of cells’ nuclei and another that allows the cell to degrade misfolded proteins. In these two the former are related to diseased states while the latter is impor...