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Analytical chemistry
Published

Ultrasensitive Protein Aggregate Quantification Assays for Neurodegenerative Diseases on the Simoa Platform

Authors

Dorothea Böken, Zengjie Xia, Jeff Y L Lam, Emre Fertan, Yunzhao Wu, Elizabeth A English, Juraj Konc, Florence Layburn, Gonçalo J L Bernardes, Henrik Zetterberg, Matthew R Cheetham, David Klenerman

Abstract

Anal Chem. 2024 Dec 24. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c04188. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Nanoscale aggregates play a key role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. However, quantifying these aggregates in complex biological samples, such as biofluids and postmortem brain tissue, has been challenging due to their low concentration and small size, necessitating the development of methods with high sensitivity and specificity. Here, we have developed ultrasensitive assays utilizing the Quanterix Simoa platform to detect α-synuclein, β-amyloid and tau aggregates, including those with common posttranslational modifications such as truncation of α-synuclein and AT8 phosphorylation of tau aggregates. All assays had a detection limit in the low pM range. As a part of this work, we developed silica-nanoparticle calibrators, allowing for the quantification of all aggregates. These assays were validated for aggregate and target specificity through denaturation and cross-reactivity experiments. We then applied these assays to brain homogenate samples from Alzheimer's disease and control samples, demonstrating their applicability to postmortem tissue. Lastly, we explored the potential of these assays for blood-based diagnostics by detecting aggregates in serum samples from early Alzheimer's disease patients.

PMID:39718440 | DOI:10.1021/acs.analchem.4c04188

UK DRI Authors

Profile picture of Henrik Zetterberg

Prof Henrik Zetterberg

Group Leader

Pioneering the development of fluid biomarkers for dementia

Prof Henrik Zetterberg
David Klenerman

Prof Sir David Klenerman

Group Leader

Determining how protein clumps form, damage the brain and change as the different neurodegenerative diseases develop to know which ones to target for therapies

Prof Sir David Klenerman