Interaction of alpha-synuclein with lipids.

Alpha-synuclein (α-syn) is a natively unfolded protein that is abundantly expressed in the central nervous system. Although it has been shown to be involved in neurotransmission and cognition, its exact functions remain elusive. The misfolding of this protein into β-sheet-rich amyloid structures and subsequent aggregation has been associated with several neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease.

Gold Deassembly: From Au(SPh-Bu) to Au(SPh-Bu) Nanocluster through Dynamic Surface Structure Reconstruction.

Molecular level understanding of the structural growth patterns and property evolution in nanoclusters (NCs) is crucial for the design and rational synthesis of clusters for specific properties and applications. In this regard, transformation has always been a versatile approach to achieve atomic precision with atomic purity and a deeper understanding of the growth mechanisms of noble metal NCs. To the latter end, we have demonstrated a structural transformation of Au(SPh-Bu) to Au(SPh-Bu) NC, which occurred through the deassembly of an Au(SPh-Bu) fragment.