α-Synuclein (αS) is a membrane-binding protein with sequence similarity to apolipoproteins
and other lipid-carrying proteins, which are capable of forming lipid-containing
nanoparticles, sometimes referred to as" discs." Previously, it has been unclear whether αS
also possesses this property. Using cryo-electron microscopy and light scattering, we found
that αS can remodel phosphatidylglycerol vesicles into nanoparticles whose shape
(ellipsoidal) and dimensions (in the 7–10-nm range) resemble those formed by …