Alpha-Synuclein Binds to DNA and Modulates its Physical Properties

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that is estimated to affect 2 % of the population older than 60 years. α-synuclein (aS) is a 140-residue protein, and its assembly process into amyloid fibers is directly related to PD. Research on Parkinson's disease (PD) mostly focuses on the ability of aS to form oligomers and amyloids, and how such species promote brain cell death. However, there are indications that aS also plays a...