Alpha-synuclein and mitochondrial dysfunction in parkinson’s disease: The emerging role of vdac

Abstract

Alpha-Synuclein (αSyn) is a protein whose function is still debated, as well as its role in modulation of mitochondrial function in both physiological and pathological conditions. Mitochon-drial porins or Voltage-Dependent Anion Channel (VDAC) proteins are the main gates for ADP/ATP and various substrates towards the organelle. Furthermore, they act as a mitochondrial hub for many cytosolic proteins, including αSyn. This review analyzes the main aspects of αSyn-mitochondria interaction, focusing on the role of VDAC and its emerging involvement in the pathological processes.