ALPHA-SYNUCLEIN IS PRESENT IN LEWY BODIES IN SPORADIC PARKINSONS-DISEASE

A missense mutation in the human alpha synuclein gene was recently ide ntified in some cases of familial Parkinson's disease (FPD). We have d eveloped an antibody that recognizes the C-terminal 12 amino acids of the human alpha synuclein protein and have demonstrated that alpha syn uclein is an abundant component of the Lewy bodies found within the de generating neurons of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The pres ence of alpha synuclein in Lewy bodies of sporadic PD patients suggest s a central role for alpha synuclein in the pathogenesis of PD.