AUTHOR=Brodin Lennart , Milovanovic Dragomir , Rizzoli Silvio O. , Shupliakov Oleg 

TITLE=α-Synuclein in the Synaptic Vesicle Liquid Phase: Active Player or Passive Bystander?

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-biosciences/articles/10.3389/fmolb.2022.891508

DOI=10.3389/fmolb.2022.891508

ISSN=2296-889X

ABSTRACT=<p>The protein α-synuclein, which is well-known for its links to Parkinson’s Disease, is associated with synaptic vesicles (SVs) in nerve terminals. Despite intensive studies, its precise physiological function remains elusive. Accumulating evidence indicates that liquid-liquid phase separation takes part in the assembly and/or maintenance of different synaptic compartments. The current review discusses recent data suggesting α-synuclein as a component of the SV liquid phase. We also consider possible implications of these data for disease.</p>