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Related Experiment Videos

Methods for studying synaptosomal copper release.

Alexander Hopt1, Stefan Korte, Herbert Fink

  • 1Institut für Neuropathologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Marchioninistr. 17, 81377 München, Germany. alexander.hopt@charite.de

Journal of Neuroscience Methods
|September 2, 2003
PubMed
Summary
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Researchers developed a novel fluorescent method to measure copper (Cu) in vivo, crucial for understanding neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. This technique successfully detected copper release from brain cells, offering a new diagnostic tool.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry
  • Analytical Chemistry

Background:

  • Copper (Cu) dysregulation is implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, including Wilson's, Alzheimer's, and prion diseases.
  • Existing methods lack the capability to determine in vivo copper concentrations, hindering research into its role in neurological disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate a novel in vivo method for measuring copper concentrations in the brain.
  • To investigate the release of copper from synaptosomes upon depolarization using the developed method.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized tetrakis-(4-sulfophenyl)porphine (TSPP) as a fluorescent ligand for specific Cu2+ detection, characterized by its dissociation constant (Kd) and selectivity against other divalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+).
  • Applied TSPP-based fluorescence measurements to biological systems, specifically synaptosomes, to monitor copper release.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Validated the TSPP findings using inductively-coupled-plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS) as an independent analytical approach.

    • Main Results:

    • TSPP demonstrated high specificity for Cu2+ in vitro (Kd=0.43 ± 0.07 μM at pH 7.4), with minimal cross-reactivity with Ca2+ and Mg2+.
    • Zn2+ quenched TSPP fluorescence at a different wavelength (605 nm) with a Kd of 50 ± 2.5 μM (pH 7.0).
    • The study provided the first in vivo evidence of copper release from synaptosomes upon depolarization, confirmed by ICP-MS.

    Conclusions:

    • Tetrakis-(4-sulfophenyl)porphine (TSPP) is a reliable and specific fluorescent probe for in vivo copper measurement.
    • The developed method enables the detection of dynamic changes in copper levels, such as release from synaptosomes, offering new insights into neurobiology.
    • This advancement holds potential for diagnosing and understanding neurodegenerative diseases linked to copper dyshomeostasis.