Oxidative Stress in Parkinsons Disease

Dopamine required for neuronal signaling is vesicle bound and redox inert. When it is released from the vesicles into the cytoplasm it is able to influence iron metabolism and undergo redox reactions that result in the formation of neuromelanin and ROS. Neuromelanin in turn will also influence iron metabolism and lead to the production of ROS. The equilibrium between vesicle bound dopamine and cytoplasmic dopamine is regulated by alpha-synuclein. Mutations in this protein shift the dopamine equilibrium in favour of the cytoplasm. In the presence of iron and under conditions of oxidative stress alpha-synuclem will aggregate and form deposits.