Visualizing α-synuclein pathology in live brain
α-Synuclein (α-Syn) -enriched cytoplasmic inclusions are hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease but the visualization of α-Syn inclusions in live brain and measurements of their pathological effects on individual neurons is challenging.
To overcome this challenge, the researchers developed genetically encoded fluorescent reporters, along with their corresponding knock-in mouse lines for labeling α-Syn inclusions,
The authors could observe the fluorescence upon reporter incorporation into α-Syn inclusions and propagation in the cortex of awake mice.
Using Ca2+ imaging and whole-cell recording, the reporters also enabled measurement of the pathological effects of inclusions on neuronal activity and synaptic function.
The technology thus enables diverse applications in studying the propagation and pathological effects of α-Syn inclusions in the live brain and also helps to identify inhibitors of α-Syn inclusion formation in live-cell imaging.
https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(26)00163-7
https://sciencemission.com/fluorescent-reporters-to-visualize-%CE%B1-synuclein
