Clearance and phosphorylation of alpha-synuclein are inhibited in methionine sulfoxide reductase a null yeast cells.

Aggregated alpha-synuclein and the point mutations Ala30Pro and Ala53Thr of alpha-synuclein are associated with Parkinson's disease. The physiological roles of alpha-synuclein and methionine oxidation of the alpha-synuclein protein structure and function are not fully understood. Methionine sulfoxide reductase A (MsrA) reduces methionine sulfoxide residues and functions as an antioxidant. To monitor the effect of methionine oxidation to alpha-synuclein on basic cellular processes, alpha-synucleins were expressed in msrA null mutant and wild-type yeast cells. Protein degradation was inhibited in the alpha-synuclein-expressing msrA null mutant cells compared to alpha-synuclein-expressing wild-type cells. Increased inhibition of degradation and elevated accumulations of fibrillated proteins were observed in SynA30P-expressing msrA null mutant cells. Additionally, methionine oxidation inhibited alpha-synuclein phosphorylation in yeast cells and in vitro by casein kinase 2. Thus, a compromised MsrA function combined with alpha-synuclein overexpression may promote processes leading to synucleinopathies.