Alpha-synuclein is a presynaptic neuronal protein that is thought to be involved in the formation of SNARE complexes. Most significantly, aggregated alpha-synuclein is one of the major components found in the Lewy bodies that occur in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative disorders (Okochi et al., 2000). Mutation of the alpha-synuclein gene is associated with familial forms of PD (Newmann et al., 2002). Recent evidence suggests that phosphorylation of alpha-synuclein at ser129 plays a role in the formation of inclusions in PD (Smith et al., 2005; Masliah et al., 2005).1) Okochi M, Walter J, Koyama A, Nakajo S, Baba M, Iwatsubo T, Meijer L, Kahle PJ, Haass C (2000) Constitutive phosphorylation of the Parkinson’s disease associated alpha-synuclein. J Biol Chem Jan 7;275(1): 390-7.
							
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