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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
Pt 15
pubmed:dateCreated
2005-8-4
pubmed:abstractText
alpha-Synuclein is an abundant presynaptic protein implicated in neuronal plasticity and neurodegenerative diseases. Although the function of alpha-synuclein is not thoroughly elucidated, we found that alpha-synuclein regulates dopamine synthesis by binding to and inhibiting tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate limiting enzyme in dopamine synthesis. Understanding alpha-synuclein function in dopaminergic cells should add to our knowledge of this key protein, which is implicated in Parkinson's disease and other disorders. Herein, we report a mechanism by which alpha-synuclein diminishes tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylation and activity in stably transfected dopaminergic cells. Short-term regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase depends on the phosphorylation of key seryl residues in the amino-terminal regulatory domain of the protein. Of these, Ser40 contributes significantly to tyrosine hydroxylase activation and dopamine synthesis. We observed that alpha-synuclein overexpression caused reduced Ser40 phosphorylation in MN9D cells and inducible PC12 cells. Ser40 is phosphorylated chiefly by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase PKA and dephosphorylated almost exclusively by the protein phosphatase, PP2A. Therefore, we measured the impact of alpha-synuclein overexpression on levels and activity of PKA and PP2A in our cells. PKA was unaffected by alpha-synuclein. PP2A protein levels also were unchanged, however, the activity of PP2A increased in parallel with alpha-synuclein expression. Inhibition of PP2A dramatically increased Ser40 phosphorylation only in alpha-synuclein overexpressors in which alpha-synuclein was also found to co-immunoprecipitate with PP2A. Together the data reveal a functional interaction between alpha-synuclein and PP2A that leads to PP2A activation and underscores a key role for alpha-synuclein in protein phosphorylation.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:commentsCorrections
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Aug
pubmed:issn
0021-9533
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
1
pubmed:volume
118
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
3523-30
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2005
pubmed:articleTitle
Alpha-synuclein activation of protein phosphatase 2A reduces tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylation in dopaminergic cells.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural