Phosphorylated α-Synuclein-Copper Complex Formation in the Pathogenesis of Parkinson’s Disease

Figure 1

Schematic structure of -synuclein. (a) α-Synuclein mutations related to familial PD are shown as red squares. Metal-binding sites are depicted as yellow squares. Seine (S) and threonine (Y) amino acid residues targeted by phosphorylation are indicated as blue squares. (b) Amino acid composition of α-synuclein. Residues in blue represent copper-binding sites. Red squares indicate methionine 1 and histidine 50, which are independent anchoring sites for copper binding. Green squares show phosphorylation sites (Y125 and S129) related to an increased copper-binding capability.

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