EXPLORING ALPHA-SYNUCLEIN-PREFORMED FIBRILS THROUGH FLUORESCENCE MICROSCOPY AND THIOFLAVIN T STAINING

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is mainly characterized by chronic progressive neurodegeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and the aggregation of protein plaques containing alpha-synuclein (aSYN), known as Lewy bodies. Infusion of aSYN preformed fibrils (PFFs) into rodent brains has been used to generate a new animal model of PD with the presence of aSYN aggregates. PFFs of aSYN can be purchased - the more expensive form - or generated from alpha-synuclein monomers. After generating aSYN PFFs it is important to establish quality control before infusion into the brain. This work aims to describe a protocol for the generation of aSYN PFFs from monomers and establish a robust and cost-effective quality control methodology for the identification of successful PFF generation.