Genomic Organization and Expression of the Human β-Synuclein Gene (SNCB)

The β-synuclein protein is highly homologous to the α-synuclein protein for which two mutations were reported in some familial cases of Parkinson disease. It has been shown that both α- and β-synucleins may be able to inhibit phospholipase D2 selectively. We have observed that the β-synuclein gene (HGMW-approved symbol, SNCB) is highly expressed in brain including the substantia nigra, the main region of neuronal degeneration in patients with Parkinson disease. We have determined the intron–exon structure of the β-synuclein gene and established sequencing assays that will facilitate the search for mutations in the β-synuclein gene in patients with Parkinson disease or other neurodegenerative disorders.