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synuclein gene multiplication evidence

Thomas G Beach, MD, PhD, Director and Senior Scientist, Civin Laboratory for Neuropathology, Sun Health Research Institute
Response to PD Guide:
Hot Topics@PD Therapeutics 2009
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Is lowering alpha-synuclein beneficial?
Hot Topics@PD Therapeutics 2009
Mark Frasier, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
1 Oct 2009 05:15 PM EST
In response to the presentation from David Bumcrot regarding an siRNA approach to reducing alpha-synuclein levels, there was an interesting discussion about the relevance to this type of approach in ... 
Responses: 1

Because extra copies of the alpha-synuclein gene can cause Parkinson's disease, it seems safe to say that too much alpha-synuclein can cause PD and therefore the reverse of this would be that lowering alpha-synuclein levels may decrease the probabiliity of PD. Although total levels of alpha-synuclein may not be elevated in PD brain, it is important to realize that alpha-synuclein is a very abundant protein and that localized high concentrations in individual affected cells are not likely to impact the total levels in a regional assay.

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