FIGURE 2.

Crosstalk between α-synuclein and lipid metabolism. Knock-down and overexpression of α-synuclein have demonstrated the involvement of the protein in lipid metabolism. In α-synuclein knock-out mice, AA and DHA, the main polyunsaturated fatty acids in the brain, are oppositely metabolized: whereas AA intake is diminished, DHA turnover and acylation in PI and PS are increased. α-Synuclein overexpression triggers an increase in TAG content and LD accumulation by stimulation of acyl-CoA synthetase activity and probably the modulation of HMG-CoA reductase. AA, arachidonic acid; DHA, docosahexaenoic acid; HMG-CoA, 3-Hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A; LD, lipid droplet; PI, phosphatidylinositol; PS, phosphatidylserine; TAG, triacylglycerol.