SNCA antibodies are immunological tools designed to target alpha-synuclein (α-synuclein), a protein encoded by the *SNCA* gene. α-synuclein is predominantly expressed in neurons, where it localizes to presynaptic terminals and plays roles in synaptic vesicle trafficking, neurotransmitter release, and membrane remodeling. It gained prominence due to its pathological association with neurodegenerative disorders termed "synucleinopathies," including Parkinson’s disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA). In these conditions, α-synuclein misfolds and aggregates into insoluble fibrils, forming characteristic Lewy bodies or glial cytoplasmic inclusions.
SNCA antibodies are critical for detecting and studying these pathological aggregates in research and diagnostics. They are used in techniques like immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and ELISA to assess α-synuclein expression, post-translational modifications (e.g., phosphorylation at Ser129), and aggregation states. Specific antibodies can distinguish between monomeric, oligomeric, and fibrillar forms, aiding in mechanistic studies of neurodegeneration.
Therapeutic applications are also emerging, with antibodies explored as potential immunotherapies to target and clear pathogenic α-synuclein species. However, challenges remain, including cross-reactivity with homologous proteins, variability in epitope recognition, and limited penetration of the blood-brain barrier. Despite this, SNCA antibodies remain indispensable for unraveling α-synuclein biology and advancing diagnostics or treatments for synucleinopathies.