Direct Observation of the Three Regions in α-Synuclein that Determine its Membrane-Bound Behaviour

α-synuclein (αS) is a protein involved in neurotransmitter release in presynaptic terminals, and whose aberrant aggregation is associated with Parkinson’s disease. In dopaminergic neurons, αS exists in a tightly regulated equilibrium between water-soluble and membrane-associated forms. Here we used a combination of solid-state and solution-state NMR spectroscopy to characterize the conformations of αS bound to lipid membranes mimicking the composition and physical properties of synaptic vesicles. The study evidences three αS regions possessing distinct structural and dynamical properties, including an N-terminal helical segment having a role of membrane-anchor, an unstructured C-terminal region that is weakly associated with the membrane, and a central region acting as a sensor of the lipid properties and determining the affinity of αS membrane binding. Taken together, our data define the nature of the interactions of αS with biological membranes and provide insights into their roles in the function and in the molecular processes leading the aggregation of this protein.