An Examination of Post-translational Modifications of α-synuclein and its Effects on Parkinson's disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common degenerative disease of the central nervous system. PD affects millions of people worldwide, so it is critical to research and understand Parkinson’s disease to better help those affected. The exact cause and pathogenesis of PD is unknown, but the aggregation of α-Synuclein into Lewy bodies has been associated with PD. a-Synuclein often goes through post-translational modifications (PTMs). PTMs can affect the shape, localization, function, and activity of proteins like a-Synuclein. PTMs of a-Synuclein can also affect how the protein aggregates. PTMs of α-Synuclein can play a big role in the pathogenesis of PD, and understanding how PTMs affect α-Synuclein is critical in helping forward research that focuses on PD. This paper discusses the effects of various PTMs on α-Synuclein and how they affect the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s Disease.