ABSTRACT
Alpha-synuclein and the family of 14-3-3 proteins are both highly expressed in the brain and share a structural and functional homology (Ostrerova, 1999). Based on previous clinical and basic research, both alpha-synuclein and 14-3-3 proteins are associated with the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, etc. In particular, alpha-synuclein and 143-3 are major components of Lewy bodies, which are abnormal protein aggregates that develop within the nerve cells of patients with Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Along these lines, many studies have investigated the use of alpha-synuclein and/or 14-3-3 proteins as potential biomarkers for the differential diagnosis and progression of various neurological diseases.
