α-synuclein seeding assay using cultured cells

Abstract

α-Synuclein, a presynaptic protein, is involved in synaptic vesicle dynamics in response to neuronal activity. Mutations of the α-synuclein gene and the neuronal deposition of α-synuclein, called Lewy bodies, are linked to the development of Parkinson’s disease. α-Synuclein has a prion-like property that converts its physiological protein conformation to a pathogenic one, forming disease-causing fibrils. Aggregation of these fibrils and subsequent inclusion formation are suggested to interfere with vesicular trafficking and organelle function in neurons. Thus, detection of a prion-like property of α-synuclein and the evaluation of its modifying factors are required to understand the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and to develop new therapies. In this chapter, we describe a cell-based assay for detecting α-synuclein propagation.