Fig. 3.

α-Synuclein accumulation and toxicity are increased by farnesylated UCH-L1. (A and B) COS-7 cells were transfected with α-synuclein plus either vector or UCH-L1 variants, as indicated. At 72 h later, protein levels were determined by Western blotting of cell lysates and densitometric analysis. α-Synuclein levels were normalized to actin and plotted relative to vector control. (C) SH-SY5Y cells were cotransfected with α-synuclein (Syn) and N-terminally Flag-tagged UCH-L1 (WT or C220S), as indicated. Cell lysates were analyzed as above. In parallel, cell viability was assessed by flow cytometry based on cell size, complexity, and membrane integrity. Cell numbers were normalized against control cells transfected with α-synuclein and vector; n = 3. Data represent mean ± SE throughout (#, P < 0.05; *, P < 0.005; **, P < 0.001).