Editing Alpha-synuclein (section)

===Proneurogenic function of alpha-synuclein===
In some [[neurodegenerative diseases]], alpha-synuclein produces insoluble [[inclusion bodies]]. These diseases, known as [[synucleinopathies]], are connected with either higher levels of normal alpha-synuclein or its mutant variants.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Ryskalin L, Busceti CL, Limanaqi F, Biagioni F, Gambardella S, Fornai F | title = A Focus on the Beneficial Effects of Alpha Synuclein and a Re-Appraisal of Synucleinopathies | journal = Current Protein & Peptide Science | volume = 19 | issue = 6 | pages = 598–611 | year = 2018 | pmid = 29150919 | pmc = 5925871 | doi = 10.2174/1389203718666171117110028 }}</ref> The normal physiological role of Snca, however, has not yet been thoroughly explained. In fact, physiological Snca has been demonstrated to have a neuroprotective impact by inhibiting apoptosis induced by several types of apoptotic stimuli, or by regulating the expression of proteins involved in apoptotic pathways.
Recently it has been demonstrated that up-regulation of alpha-synuclein in the dentate gyrus  (a neurogenic niche where new neurons are generated throughout life) activates stem cells, in a model of premature neural aging. This model shows reduced expression of alpha-synuclein and reduced proliferation of stem cells, as is physiologically observed during aging. Exogenous alpha-synuclein in the dentate gyrus is able to rescue this defect. Moreover, alpha-synuclein also boosts the proliferation of dentate gyrus progenitor neural cells in wild-type young mice. Thus, alpha-synuclein represents an effector for neural stem and progenitor cell activation.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Micheli L, Creanza TM, Ceccarelli M, D'Andrea G, Giacovazzo G, Ancona N, Coccurello R, Scardigli R, Tirone F | title = Transcriptome Analysis in a Mouse Model of Premature Aging of Dentate Gyrus: Rescue of Alpha-Synuclein Deficit by Virus-Driven Expression or by Running Restores the Defective Neurogenesis | journal = Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology | volume = 9 | pages = 696684 | year = 2021 | pmid = 34485283 | pmc = 8415876 | doi = 10.3389/fcell.2021.696684 | doi-access = free }}</ref>
Similarly, alpha-synuclein has been found to be required to maintain stem cells of the SVZ (subventricular zone, i.e., another neurogenic niche) in a cycling state.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Perez-Villalba A, Sirerol-Piquer MS, Belenguer G, Soriano-Cantón R, Muñoz-Manchado AB, Villadiego J, Alarcón-Arís D, Soria FN, Dehay B, Bezard E, Vila M, Bortolozzi A, Toledo-Aral JJ, Pérez-Sánchez F, Fariñas I | title = Synaptic Regulator α-Synuclein in Dopaminergic Fibers Is Essentially Required for the Maintenance of Subependymal Neural Stem Cells | journal = The Journal of Neuroscience| volume = 38 | issue = 4 | pages = 814–825 | date = January 2018 | pmid = 29217686 | pmc = 6596232 | doi = 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2276-17.2017 }}</ref>