How beta and gamma synuclein affect alpha-synuclein at brain synapses
The Impact of Beta- and Gamma-Synucleins on Alpha-Synuclein's Synaptic Function
This research looks at whether two related proteins, beta- and gamma-synuclein, change how alpha-synuclein helps brain cells communicate in conditions like Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11334311 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, scientists will study how three synuclein proteins work together at nerve endings that release brain chemicals. They will use mice engineered to lack beta or gamma synuclein, lab-grown cells, and purified proteins to watch how these proteins influence vesicle clustering and the machinery (SNARE complexes) that lets nerve cells send signals. The team will also measure how those changes affect vesicle recycling and overall neuronal activity. The work focuses on basic brain biology that could explain why synuclein proteins go wrong in diseases such as Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia, or other synuclein-related dementias who want to follow research progress or consider future participation in related studies would be most connected to this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose dementia is caused by non-synuclein processes may not see direct benefit from these findings in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets to prevent or slow synuclein-related diseases like Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia.
How similar studies have performed: Alpha-synuclein’s role in disease is well established, but studying the normal roles of beta- and gamma-synuclein and their interaction with alpha-synuclein is relatively new and not yet proven in humans.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Burre, Jacqueline — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Burre, Jacqueline
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.