Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 23, 2026

Technique for Intranasal Administration of α-Synuclein Aggregates
Published on: November 8, 2024
Assembly of α-synuclein aggregates on phospholipid bilayers
Zhengjian Lv1, Mohtadin Hashemi2, Siddhartha Banerjee2
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986025 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6025, United States of America; Bruker Nano Surfaces Division, 112 Robin Hill Road, Goleta, Santa Barbara, CA 93117, United States of America.
Abstract:
The spontaneous self-assembly of α-synuclein (α-syn) into aggregates of different morphologies is associated with the development of Parkinson's disease. However, the mechanism behind the spontaneous assembly remains elusive. The current study shows a novel effect of phospholipid bilayers on the assembly of the α-syn aggregates. Using time-lapse atomic force microscopy, it was discovered that α-syn assembles into aggregates on bilayer surfaces, even at the nanomolar concentration range. The efficiency of the aggregation process depends on the membrane composition, with the greatest efficiency observed for of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-l-serine (POPS). Importantly, assembled aggregates can dissociate from the surface, suggesting that on-surface aggregation is a mechanism by which pathological aggregates may be produced. Computational modeling revealed that dimers of α-syn assembled rapidly, through the membrane-bound monomer on POPS bilayer, due to an aggregation-prone orientation of α-syn. Interaction of α-syn with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) leads to a binding mode that does not induce a fast assembly of the dimer. Based on these findings, we propose a model in which the interaction of α-syn with membranes plays a critical role initiating the formation of α-syn aggregates and the overall aggregation process.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER
A large chunk of any biological membrane is composed of phospholipids. These lipids have a heterogeneous distribution across different subcellular organelles and even between...
Protein Complex Assembly
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer
Aggregates Classification
Petrographic classification groups aggregates based on common mineralogical characteristics. Some of the common mineral groups found in aggregates are...
α-Alkylation of Ketones via Enolate Ions
Bonding and Strength of Aggregate

