α-Synuclein Aggregation

α-Synuclein is a major component of Lewy bodies in Parkinson's disease and is found associated with several other forms of dementia. As with other neurodegenerative diseases, the ability of α-synuclein to aggregate and form fibrillar deposits seems central to its pathology. We have defined a sequence within the NAC region of α-synuclein that is necessary for aggregation. Exploitation of chemically modified analogues of this peptide may produce inhibitors of aggregation.