A luminescence-based assay for monitoring changes in alpha-synuclein aggregation in living cells.

Parkinson's disease is characterized by the accumulation of protein aggregates in the brain, termed Lewy bodies. Lewy bodies are predominantly composed of α-synuclein and mutations that increase the aggregation potential of α-synuclein have been associated with early on-set disease. Assays capable of reporting on the solubility of α-synuclein in living cells could provide a means to interrogate the influence of mutations on aggregation as well as identify small molecules capable of modulating the aggregation of α-synuclein.