TitleMolecular insights into α-synuclein interaction with individual human core histones, linker histone, and dsDNA.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2021
AuthorsJos S, Gogoi H, Prasad TKootteri, Hurakadli MA, Kamariah N, Padmanabhan B, Padavattan S
JournalProtein Sci
Volume30
Issue10
Pagination2121-2131
Date Published2021 Oct
ISSN1469-896X
Keywordsalpha-Synuclein, DNA, Histones, Humans, Lewy Bodies
Abstract

α-Synuclein (αS) plays a key role in Parkinson's disease (PD). The αS nuclear role, its binding affinity and specificity to histones and dsDNA remains unknown. Here, we have measured the binding affinity ( ) between αS wild-type (wt) and PD-specific αS S129-phosphorylation mimicking (S129E) mutant with full-length and flexible tail truncated individual core histones (H2a, H2b, H3, and H4), linker histone (H1), and carried out αS-dsDNA interaction studies. This study revealed that αS(wt) interacts specifically with N-terminal flexible tails of histone H3, H4, and flexible tails of H1. The αS(S129E) mutant recognizes histones similar to αS(wt) but binds with higher affinity. Intriguingly, αS(S129E) showed a binding affinity for control proteins (bovine serum albumin and lysozyme), while no interaction was seen for αS(wt). Based on our above observation, we contemplate that the physio-chemical properties of αS with S129-phosphorylation has changed compared to αS(wt), resulting in interaction for other proteins, which is the basis for Lewy body formation. Besides, this study showed αS binding to dsDNA is weak and nonspecific. Overall, αS specificity for histone binding suggests that its nuclear role is possibly driven through histone interaction.

DOI10.1002/pro.4167
Alternate JournalProtein Sci
PubMed ID34382268
PubMed Central IDPMC8442973