Innovative approach to studying Parkinson’s disease discovered

News

Author: Johanna Stiefler JohnsonPublished: 19 August 2021

Parkinson's LifePrep: Parkinson's LifeCook: Parkinson's LifeServes:

Small droplets appear in liquid.

Scientists in the US have discovered a new way of investigating Parkinson’s disease through proteins. Similar to the way oil separates from water, some proteins in cells can separate into tiny droplets. Faults in this process, such as clogs, can lead to the onset of neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s.

Now, researchers from Rutgers University, US, have succeeded in quantifying the surface tension and thickness of these droplets – which will help scientists to better understand how they work. Inspired by the act of drinking from a straw, which creates a speed and pressure that can reveal the properties of a liquid, the team found that the protein droplets could be similarly measured while moving through a micropipette.

“We can now finally study in a quantitative manner how material properties of protein droplets change during neurodegeneration,” said senior author Zheng Shi. “We anticipate this technique will be widely applicable.”


Read more:

Could people with Parkinson’s disease benefit from a new hydrogel?

New evidence fruit compound could support Parkinson’s disease treatment

Go Back

Share this story

Comments


Related articles


Two scientists sit in a lab.

News

Research offers new insights on a cause of Parkinson’s disease

Researchers in Denmark have shared insights on a cause of up to 95% of Park

READ MORE

News

Vineyard pesticides may be linked to Parkinson’s disease

Exposure to pesticides used in vineyards could be linked to an increased ri

READ MORE
A clinician speaks to a patient in a sunny room.

News

Study highlights lack of research for the LGBTQ+ Parkinson’s community

Research for LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and otherwi

READ MORE