Biomolecules (May 2021)

Alpha-Synuclein and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Parkinson’s Disease: The Emerging Role of VDAC

  • Pierpaolo Risiglione,
  • Federica Zinghirino,
  • Maria Carmela Di Rosa,
  • Andrea Magrì,
  • Angela Messina

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11050718
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 5
p. 718

Abstract

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Alpha-Synuclein (αSyn) is a protein whose function is still debated, as well as its role in modulation of mitochondrial function in both physiological and pathological conditions. Mitochondrial porins or Voltage-Dependent Anion Channel (VDAC) proteins are the main gates for ADP/ATP and various substrates towards the organelle. Furthermore, they act as a mitochondrial hub for many cytosolic proteins, including αSyn. This review analyzes the main aspects of αSyn-mitochondria interaction, focusing on the role of VDAC and its emerging involvement in the pathological processes.

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