Alpha-Synuclein Fails to Form Aggregates in Endocytosis-Defective Fission Yeast Strains, ∆ myo1 and ∆ end4.

Abstract

Alpha-Synuclein (α-Syn) is a soluble neuronal protein whose aggregation is one of the hallmarks of Parkinson's disease (PD). We previously developed a fission yeast model of PD that recapitulates α-Syn aggregation upon high-level expression of human α-Syn. Here, we show that α-Syn aggregate formation in yeast requires Myo1 and End4 , proteins essential for the early steps of endocytosis. α-Syn expression levels in Δ myo1 and ∆end4 cells were comparable to wild-type cells, suggesting that defects in endocytosis disrupt α-Syn aggregation. These findings highlight the critical role of endocytosis in α-Syn aggregation and PD pathology.