Meghan Matheny, Nikhil Virani
Faculty Sponsor: Jeffrey Myers
Alpha synuclein (AS), a human neuronal protein, is essential for normal cognitive function. AS is known to form insoluble clumps, known as amyloid fibrils, in the brains of Parkinson’s disease patients. The ultimate goal of this research is to elucidate the in vitro pathway by which AS is converted from a soluble, monomeric protein to amyloid fibrils. This knowledge will help contribute to the overall understanding of the progression of Parkinson’s and to potential treatments.