Avid Bioservices Inc (CDMO)

[biopharm]

Phosphatidylethanolamine deficiency disrupts a-synuclein homeostasis in yeast and worm models of Parkinson disease.

Sept 23, 2014

Abstract

Phosphatidylserine decarboxylase, which is embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane, synthesizes phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and, in some cells, synthesizes the majority of this important phospholipid. Normal levels of PE can decline with age in the brain. Here we used yeast and worms to test the hypothesis that low levels of PE alter the homeostasis of the Parkinson disease-associated protein a-synuclein (a-syn).
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25201965

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Apparently, alpha-synuclein is essential for normal development of the cognitive functions. Knock-out mice with the targeted inactivation of the expression of alpha-synuclein show impaired spatial learning and working memory.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha-synuclein

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