Serine-129 phosphorylated α-synuclein drives mitochondrial dysfunction and calcium dysregulation in Parkinson’s disease model

Phosphorylation of <i>α</i>-synuclein at serine-129 (p-<i>α</i>-syn) is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD) and constitutes nearly 90% of α-synuclein in Lewy bodies, playing a critical role in disease progression. Despite its pathological significance, the molecular targets and mechanisms driving p-<i>α</i>-syn-induced toxicity, particularly mitochondrial dysfunction, remain poorly understood. In this study, we observed mitochondrial dysfunction in primary cortical neurons derived from mice overexpressing human <i>α</i>-synuclein (h-<i>α</i>-syn), which also exhibit elevated levels of p-<i>α</i>-syn. Notably, inhibiting Ser129 phosphorylation improved mitochondrial function, underscoring the role of p-<i>α</i>-syn in mitochondrial damage. To investigate the molecular mechanism, we performed co-immunoprecipitation (CO-IP) combined with mass spectrometry (MS) to identify p-<i>α</i>-syn binding proteins. This analysis identified protein tyrosine phosphatase interacting protein 51 (PTPIP51) and vesicle-associated membrane protein-associated protein B (VAPB) as key binding partners. Both proteins are localized in the mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum mem-brane (MAM) and essential for calcium transfer between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria. Our results showed that p-<i>α</i>-syn binds to PTPIP51 and VAPB, disrupting calcium signaling between the ER and mitochondria. Importantly, inhibition of Ser129 phosphorylation partially rescued calcium homeostasis. These findings uncover a novel mechanism by which p-<i>α</i>-syn drives mitochondrial dysfunction and calcium dysregulation through its interactions with MAM-associated proteins, providing new insights into its role in PD pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets.