γ-synuclein is a 127 amino acids protein that belongs to the synuclein family of proteins. Synucleins are natively unfolded proteins, i.e. they have no secondary or tertiary structure in solution and hence these proteins are heat stable. The unusual biophysical properties of synucleins are rooted in their characteristic primary sequence that includes a highly conserved N-terminal domain with an 11- residue repeat and a less conserved acidic C-terminal domain that contains many proline residues¹.

Mammalian γ-synuclein, encoded by BCSG1 (breast cancer specific gene 1), was discovered in a screen for breast cancer markers². It is expressed in the peripheral nervous system in primary sensory neurons, sympathetic neurons, and motor neurons. It is also detected in the brain³, olfactory epithelium and breast/ovarian tumors⁴. Indeed, exogenous expression of this protein increases the invasive and metastatic potential of breast tumors⁵.

The roles of synucleins are not fully elucidated but this group of conserved and unusual proteins contributes to diverse disease processes spanning neurodegenerative disease and cancer and hence, studying the synucleins specific cellular activity is very tempting and promising.