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Measuring Mitochondrial Dysfunction Caused by Soluble α-Synuclein Oligomers

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Book cover Alpha-Synuclein

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1948))

Abstract

Accumulation of misfolded αSyn and mitochondrial dysfunction are central features of Parkinson’s disease. Growing evidence points to a relationship between these two phenomena as oligomeric α-synuclein (αSyn) can interact with mitochondria and impair their function. Standardization of methods to prepare αSyn oligomers and isolate functional mitochondria will facilitate efforts to expand upon early findings. Here we present detailed protocols for preparing soluble αSyn oligomers; for isolating functional mitochondria from mouse tissue; and for simultaneously measuring several aspects of mitochondrial physiology. These protocols will benefit future studies aimed at characterizing the mitotoxicity of αSyn species isolated from the brains of synucleinopathy patients as well as efforts to identify small molecules and genetic or environmental alterations that prevent αSyn-induced mitochondrial dysfunction.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Simmons University, Boston, MA, USA

    Eric S. Luth

  2. Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

    Irina G. Stavrovskaya

Authors
  1. Eric S. Luth
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  2. Irina G. Stavrovskaya
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eric S. Luth .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, UK

    Tim Bartels

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Luth, E.S., Stavrovskaya, I.G. (2019). Measuring Mitochondrial Dysfunction Caused by Soluble α-Synuclein Oligomers. In: Bartels, T. (eds) Alpha-Synuclein. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1948. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9124-2_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9124-2_14

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-9123-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-9124-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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