Alpha-Synuclein belongs to a family of small cytoplasmic proteins expressed predominantly in neurons. Alpha-synuclein may be involved in neuronal plasticity and could act as a molecular chaperone that mediates the transformation of soluble Aβ into insoluble amyloid. The protein is a major component of Lewy bodies, the pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease, and is also observed in senile plaques of Alzheimer's disease patients. Human α-synuclein appears to be phosphorylated at two major sites, serine 129 and serine 87, and phosphorylation may play a role in the functional regulation of the protein.Synonyms: NACP, Non-A beta component of AD amyloid, Non-A4 component of amyloid precursor, PARK1