Background information
The synucleins, including Alpha-synuclein (also designated NACP for nonamyloid component precursor),Beta-synuclein (also designated PNP 14 for neuroprotein 14)and Gamma-synuclein (also designated persyn or BCSG1 for breast cancer-specific gene 1)are presynaptic protein abundant in neurons. Alpha-synuclein, a component of Alzheimer’s disease amyloid plaques, is localized to neuronal cell bodies and synapses. Coordinate expression of Alpha-synucleinand Beta-synuclein may be important during hematopoetic cell differentiation. In patients with Parkinson’s disease, a mutant form of Alpha-synuclein has been found and Gamma-synuclein is associated with axonal pathology.