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Releasing the nerve cell killers

α-synuclein promotes apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons – those most affected in Parkinson disease. New research suggests that in these neurons, α-synuclein may sequester the 14-3-3 protein, freeing up proteins that promote cell death. (pages 600–606)

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Figure 1: A model for selective vulnerability of dopamingeric neurons in PD.

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Welch, K., Yuan, J. Releasing the nerve cell killers. Nat Med 8, 564–565 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0602-564

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