Intronic enhancers of the human <i>SNCA</i> gene predominantly regulate its expression in brain in vivo.

Abstract

Evidence from patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and our previously reported α-synuclein (SNCA) transgenic rat model support the idea that increased SNCA protein is a substantial risk factor of PD pathogenesis. However, little is known about the transcription control of the human <i>SNCA</i> gene in the brain in vivo. Here, we identified that the <i>DYT6</i> gene product THAP1 (THAP domain-containing apoptosis-associated protein 1) and its interaction partner CTCF (CCCTC-binding factor) act as transcription regulators of <i>SNCA</i>. THAP1 controls <i>SNCA</i> intronic enhancers' activities, while CTCF regulates its enhancer-promoter loop formation. The <i>SNCA</i> intronic enhancers present neurodevelopment-dependent activities and form enhancer clusters similar to "super-enhancers" in the brain, in which the PD-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms are enriched. Deletion of the <i>SNCA</i> intronic enhancer clusters prevents the release of paused RNA polymerase II from its promoter and subsequently reduces its expression drastically in the brain, which may provide new therapeutic approaches to prevent its accumulation and thus related neurodegenerative diseases defined as synucleinopathies.