Alpha-synuclein is a member of the synuclein family, which also includes beta- and gamma-synuclein. Synucleins are abundantly expressed in the brain and alpha- and beta-synuclein inhibit phospholipase D2 selectively. SNCA may serve to integrate presynaptic signaling and membrane trafficking. Defects in SNCA have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson disease. SNCA peptides are a major component of amyloid plaques in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Four alternatively spliced transcripts encoding two different isoforms have been identified for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Mar 2009]

SNCA: a member of the synuclein family. Abundantly expressed in the brain. Inhibits phospholipase D2 selectively. May integrate presynaptic signaling and membrane trafficking. Implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. A major component of amyloid plaques in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Two alternatively spliced isoforms transcripts have been identified.

Protein type: Adaptor/scaffold

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 4q21

Cellular Component: Golgi apparatus; nuclear outer membrane; rough endoplasmic reticulum; mitochondrion; lysosome; fibril; extracellular region; terminal button; cell cortex; inclusion body; mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I; cytosol; actin cytoskeleton; platelet alpha granule membrane; synaptic vesicle; growth cone; axon; perinuclear region of cytoplasm; cytoplasm; plasma membrane; ribosome; nucleus; cell junction

Molecular Function: identical protein binding; protein domain specific binding; histone binding; zinc ion binding; kinesin binding; ferrous iron binding; microtubule binding; caspase inhibitor activity; beta-tubulin binding; magnesium ion binding; protein N-terminus binding; phosphoprotein binding; Hsp70 protein binding; oxidoreductase activity; calcium ion binding; dynein binding; protein binding; phospholipase binding; copper ion binding; phospholipid binding; tau protein binding; fatty acid binding; alpha-tubulin binding

Biological Process: regulation of long-term neuronal synaptic plasticity; negative regulation of serotonin uptake; regulation of acyl-CoA biosynthetic process; positive regulation of apoptosis; adult locomotory behavior; mitochondrial membrane organization and biogenesis; negative regulation of norepinephrine uptake; microglial cell activation; positive regulation of endocytosis; response to lipopolysaccharide; negative regulation of caspase activity; negative regulation of monooxygenase activity; dopamine biosynthetic process; negative regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter; fatty acid metabolic process; regulation of dopamine secretion; positive regulation of neurotransmitter secretion; negative regulation of dopamine uptake; negative regulation of histone acetylation; calcium ion homeostasis; response to magnesium ion; negative regulation of exocytosis; negative regulation of protein amino acid phosphorylation; behavioral response to cocaine; receptor internalization; phospholipid metabolic process; synapse organization and biogenesis; fibril organization and biogenesis; dopamine uptake; response to iron(II) ion; negative regulation of neuron apoptosis; positive regulation of receptor recycling; aging; response to drug; caspase activation; neutral lipid metabolic process; protein destabilization; regulation of glutamate secretion; regulation of macrophage activation; negative regulation of microtubule polymerization; positive regulation of peptidyl-serine phosphorylation; negative regulation of dopamine metabolic process; organelle ATP synthesis coupled electron transport; regulation of locomotion; synaptic vesicle endocytosis; positive regulation of release of sequestered calcium ion into cytosol; regulation of excitatory postsynaptic membrane potential; negative regulation of transporter activity; negative regulation of apoptosis

Disease: Parkinson Disease 4, Autosomal Dominant; Dementia, Lewy Body; Parkinson Disease 1, Autosomal Dominant