Neuromelanin as a nidus for neurodegeneration

Abstract

This scientific commentary refers to ‘Neuromelanin accumulation drives endogenous synucleinopathy in non-human primates’ by Chocarro et al. (https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awad331).

Figure 1

Neuromelanin and Parkinson’s disease. Expression of tyrosinase in dopaminergic neurons induces the formation of DOPA-quinones, which polymerize to form neuromelanin and recruit proteins including fibrillar α-synuclein, iron, toxicants and lipids. This complex is sequestered by autophagosomes, thereby helping to protect neurons from damage. In disease, neuromelanin may escape from lysosomes and cause neuronal damage or it may spread to neighbouring cells such as pyramidal neurons in the cortex as demonstrated by Chocarro et al. Created with BioRender.com.