Tracking diseased proteins in the brain

A research team led by the University of Melbourne has developed a new technique to track diseased proteins as they form clusters in brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s. Dr. Danny Hatters and his team used a flow cytometer, which analyzes cell particles through light waves, to track protein clusters in cells at a rate of 1000 seconds per minute. Cells with clustered proteins can also be recovered for further study, which has not been possible before. These findings could potentially lead to improved treatment methods for neurological disorders. “Being able to identify locations of diseased proteins in cells enables drugs to be developed to target different stages of disease development,” Hatters said. This approach could help scientists understand how proteins cluster and what cells functions are damaged in the process, according to Hatters.