Damage to neurons, an underlying condition of Parkinson’s disease (PD), occurs as a result of aggregates of the protein α-Synuclein that then leads to cytoplasmic structures called Lewy Bodies (LBs). α-Synuclein is found in small amounts in various tissues but is most abundant in the brain where it occurs in multiple forms including soluble unfolded monomeric and polymeric forms and also as β-sheet-containing fibrils. The unfolded form occurs predominantly in presynaptic terminals of brain neurons where it is thought to help maintain supply of synaptic vesicles and release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter critical for regulating voluntary and involuntary movements. The progression of PD pathology is now believed to be the result of cell-to-cell transfer of misfolded α-Synuclein protein, with the olfactory bulb and gut serving as initial sites. From these starting sites, misfolded α-Synuclein protein movement between neurons underlie pathological PD propagation.
BioLegend supports scientists researching Parkinson’s disease through a portfolio of products including the newly released LEGEND MAX™ Human α-Synuclein (Colorimetric) ELISA Kit that boasts the following features over our chemiluminescent version of the kit:
- Higher sensitivity (lower level of detection = 1.8 pg/mL)
- Broad sample detection (cerebrospinal fluid, brain lysate, serum, plasma, urine)
- Ready-to-use reagents with a longer shelf-life
- Assay can be completed in a single workday
- Requires only standard colorimetric microplate reader; no need for a spectrophotometer
- More economically priced on a per test basis
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