Alpha-Synuclein Preserves Mitochondrial Fusion and Function in Neuronal Cells

Figure 3

Expression levels of mitochondrial proteins involved in shape modification. (a) Relative expression of Mfn1, Mfn2, Opa1, and Drp1 was evaluated by using real-time PCR on primary cortical neuron extracts of wt and α-syn null mice. Note the statistically significant reduction of Mfn1 in the primary cortical neurons from α-syn null mice. (b) Western blot analysis revealed increased ratio between the short and long forms of Opa1 in the absence of α-syn which did not exhibit alterations in the levels of Mfn2. , unpaired two-tailed -test. Data are presented as ().

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