Defining essential charged residues in fibril formation of a lysosomal derived N-terminal α-synuclein truncation.

N- and C-terminal α-synuclein (α-syn) truncations are prevalent in Parkinson's disease. Effects of the N- and C-terminal residues on α-syn aggregation and fibril propagation are distinct, where the N-terminus dictates fibril structure. Here, the majority of α-syn truncations are assigned by intact mass spectrometry to lysosomal activity. To delineate essential charged residues in fibril formation, we selected an N-terminal truncation (66-140) that is generated solely from soluble α-syn by asparagine endopeptidase. Ala-substitutions at K80 and E83 impact aggregation kinetics, revealing their vital roles in defining fibril polymorphism. K80, E83, and K97 are identified to be critical for fibril elongation. Based on solid-state NMR, mutational and Raman studies, and molecular dynamics simulations, a E83-K97 salt bridge is proposed. Finally, participation of C-terminal Lys residues in the full-length α-syn fibril assembly process is also shown, highlighting that individual residues can be targeted for therapeutic intervention.