Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Research Article
  • Published:

Alpha synuclein is present in Lewy bodies in sporadic Parkinson's disease

Molecular Psychiatry volume 3, pages 493–499 (1998)Cite this article

Abstract

A missense mutation in the human alpha synuclein gene was recently identified in some cases of familial Parkinson's disease (FPD). We have developed an antibody that recognizes the C-terminal 12 amino acids of the human alpha synuclein protein and have demonstrated that alpha synuclein is an abundant component of the Lewy bodies found within the degenerating neurons of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The presence of alpha synuclein in Lewy bodies of sporadic PD patients suggests a central role for alpha synuclein in the pathogenesis of PD.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Basic Neuroscience Program, National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Building 36, Room 3D06, Bethesda, 20892-1430, MD, USA

    E Mezey & G Harta

  2. Genetic Disease Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 49, Room 4A66, Bethesda, 20892-1430, MD, USA

    A M Dehejia, S F Suchy, R L Nussbaum & M H Polymeropoulos

  3. Section on Genetics, National Institute of Mental Health/National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 36, Room 3D06, Bethesda, 10892-1430, MD, USA

    M J Brownstein

Authors
  1. E Mezey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A M Dehejia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G Harta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S F Suchy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R L Nussbaum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M J Brownstein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. M H Polymeropoulos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M H Polymeropoulos.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mezey, E., Dehejia, A., Harta, G. et al. Alpha synuclein is present in Lewy bodies in sporadic Parkinson's disease. Mol Psychiatry 3, 493–499 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4000446

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4000446

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links