Local Ionic Conditions Modulate the Aggregation Propensity and Influence the Structural Polymorphism of α-Synuclein

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is linked to the aggregation of the intrinsically disordered protein α-synuclein (aSyn), but the precise triggers and mechanisms driving this process remain unclear. Local environmental factors, such as ion concentrations, can influence aSyn’s conformational ensemble and its tendency to aggregate. In this study, we explore how physiologically relevant ions, mainly Ca²⁺ and Na⁺, affect aSyn aggregation, monomer structural dynamics, and fibril polymorphism. ThT fluorescence assays show that all ions speed up aggregation, with Ca²⁺ having the strongest effect. Using heteronuclear single quantum correlation nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H–¹⁵N HSQC NMR) spectroscopy, we validate that Ca²⁺ binds at the C-terminus while Na⁺ interacts nonspecifically across the sequence. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and hydrogen–deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) show that Na⁺ leads to more extended aSyn structures, while Ca²⁺ results in moderate extension. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations support this, showing Na⁺ increases extension between the NAC region and C-terminus, whereas Ca²⁺ biases the ensemble toward a moderately elongated structure. MD also shows that Ca²⁺ increases water persistence times in the hydration shell, indicating that aSyn aggregation propensity is due to a combination of conformational bias of the monomer and solvent mobility. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) points toward the formation of distinct fibril polymorphs under different ionic conditions, suggesting ion-induced monomer changes contribute to the diversity of fibril structures. These findings underscore the pivotal influence of the local ionic milieu in shaping the structure and aggregation propensity of aSyn, offering insights into the molecular underpinnings of PD and potential therapeutic strategies targeting aSyn dynamics.