Synuclein and the Coelacanth The Molecular and Evolutionary Origins of Parkinson's Disease

1. Out of the Depths - The synuclein proteins, their evolution, and the genetic code2. Bad News, Good News - The demographics and genetic and environmental risk factors for Parkinson’s disease 3. The Family Tremor - REM sleep behaviour disorder and essential tremor 4. The Knockout - The history of the knockout mouse and the surprising results for the synuclein proteins 5. Shapeshifter - The molecular structure and normal biological role of synuclein in neurons 6. A New Kind of Pathogen - Prion diseases and amyloid fibrils 7. Addicts - Neurotoxins that cause parkinsonism and the search for analogues in the environment 8. Attack of the Oligomers - Alpha-synuclein amyloid oligomers and their pathogenic roles 9. An Evolutionary Affair - The connection between Gaucher disease and Parkinson’s disease 10. Monkey Brains - Evolution of the human brain and the vulnerability of the substantia nigra 11. A Troublesome Subject - Exploring the possible connection between intelligence and Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases 12. Appendix - Alpha-synuclein in the gut, Crohn’s disease, and the possible protective role of the synucleins in innate immune response 13. Circuitry - The discovery of neural pathways involved in Parkinson’s disease and deep brain stimulation 14. Seeking a Magic Bullet - The search for new Parkinson’s disease therapeutic agents 15. Journey's End - A recap of the chapters, the final conclusions, and new directions to explore

James M. Gruschus is a molecular biophysicist with a Ph.D. in physics from Cornell University. He is currently employed as a staff scientist in the Laboratory of Structural Biophysics, National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and resides in Washington, DC.