Functional characterization of alpha-synuclein protein with antimicrobial activity
/ScienceDirect/2026
Why It Matters
This caught my attention because it flips the Parkinson's narrative. Instead of just being a toxic protein gone wrong, alpha-synuclein might actually serve a protective role against infections. That raises a fascinating question: could some Parkinson's cases start as an overactive immune response? It's purely speculative at this stage, but it changes how I think about neurodegeneration — maybe it's not just broken proteins, but a defense system misfiring.
Key Findings
- Alpha-synuclein demonstrated direct antimicrobial activity in lab tests, suggesting it functions as an innate immune defense molecule
- This finding challenges the traditional view of alpha-synuclein as purely pathological, pointing to a potential physiological role in brain immunity
- The antimicrobial properties might explain why alpha-synuclein is so highly conserved across species despite its role in neurodegenerative disease
- Researchers characterized specific mechanisms by which alpha-synuclein interacts with and neutralizes microbial threats