Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026
Detection of Disease-associated α-synuclein by Enhanced ELISA in the Brain of Transgenic Mice Overexpressing Human A53T Mutated α-synuclein
Published on: May 30, 2015
Screening of DNA aptamer which binds to alpha-synuclein
Kaori Tsukakoshi1, Ryuichi Harada, Koji Sode
1Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo, 184-8588, Japan.
Researchers discovered M5-15, the first DNA aptamer targeting alpha-synuclein. This novel aptamer shows specific binding to alpha-synuclein forms, offering potential for neurodegenerative disease diagnosis and analysis.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Alpha-synuclein is a natively unfolded protein implicated in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.
- Specific molecular targets are crucial for developing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for these conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize novel DNA aptamers capable of binding to alpha-synuclein.
- To evaluate the potential of these aptamers as tools for alpha-synuclein analysis and disease diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX) method combined with native Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (PAGE).
- Isolation and characterization of DNA aptamers through multiple screening cycles.
Main Results:
- Identification of the first DNA aptamer, named M5-15, that binds to alpha-synuclein.
- M5-15 exhibits specific binding to both alpha-synuclein monomers and oligomers.
- Structural analysis suggests M5-15 possesses three stem-loop structures potentially involved in binding.
Conclusions:
- M5-15 represents a significant advancement in aptamer technology for targeting alpha-synuclein.
- This aptamer holds promise as a valuable tool for the analysis and diagnosis of alpha-synuclein-related neurodegenerative diseases.
More Related Videos
15:23Selection of Aptamers for Amyloid β-Protein, the Causative Agent of Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: May 13, 2010
13:31Novel Atomic Force Microscopy Based Biopanning for Isolation of Morphology Specific Reagents against TDP-43 Variants in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Published on: February 12, 2015