Curvature detection of alpha synuclein aggregates on supported lipid bilayer on nanobars

• Main Author: Abdul Aziz Mohamed Salleh
• Other Authors: Zhao Wenting
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Bioengineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/77430
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Parkinson’s Disease is second most neuro degenerative disorder. It is formed when alpha synuclein aggregates to form Lewy bodies. The aim of the study was to study was to find out if alpha synuclein aggregates are formed due to specific mechanical defects such as curvature. Experiments to find out if alpha synuclein can sense curvature in supported lipid bilayer on nanobars were carried out. Lipids were prepared using various compositions of phospholipids such as Phosphatidylcholine (PC) and Phosphatidylserine (PS). The lipids were then spread onto the area of a glass chip containing the nanobars forming the supported lipid bilayer (SLB). Confocal Microscopy was used to check the condition of the SLB and if the SLB is fluid, indicating that it is good, the alpha synuclein protein will be added into the SLB and its binding to the curved area of the nanobar would be recorded. From the current results there were very little or no alpha synuclein aggregation on the curved section of the nanobar therefore there is no indication that the alpha synuclein protein could sense curvature.