2023-07-13 08:38:31
Expected to be used for analysis and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
▲ Professor Park Sang-gi (Photo = Provided by POSTECH)
[메디컬투데이=이한희 기자] A Korean research team has developed a calcium concentration measuring sensor that emits light only in MAM, the membrane between mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. It is expected that this will be used for analysis and diagnosis of the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
POSTECH announced on the 13th that the research team led by Professor Park Sang-ki of the Department of Life Sciences and Convergence Graduate School succeeded in measuring the concentration of calcium ions in MAM (membrane between mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum) using a sensor that emits fluorescence (light) when two proteins are combined.
Recently, the importance of calcium ion movement through MAM has been emphasized as it has been revealed that it is involved in various mechanisms in the body. However, it is difficult to directly measure the concentration of calcium ions inside MAM with current technology.
In this study, the research team introduced ‘Biomolecular Fluorescence Complementation’. This technique does not emit fluorescence when two fluorescent proteins are separated, but emits light when they are combined.
The research team developed a sensor (MAM-Caflux) that emits fluorescence only from MAM by applying this technique to a sensor (CalfluxVTN) that measures the concentration of calcium ions in the body through the BRET phenomenon.
As a result, it was possible to measure the calcium ion concentration inside the MAM in real time and confirm the change in calcium ion concentration under various conditions. In addition, by changing the image analysis conditions, the basic MAM structure might be confirmed through the sensor regardless of calcium ions.
Using this, the research team confirmed that a large amount of MAM was distributed at the point where the dendritic structure of neurons split, and the concentration of calcium was maintained high. This result shows that calcium ions inside MAM play an important role in the process of neuron development.
In addition, they found that the MAM structure and calcium ion concentration in neurons of mice suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease were different from those of normal mice. The sensor developed by the research team can be used to analyze and diagnose the cause of disease.
Professor Park said, “Due to technical limitations, the calcium concentration in MAM has been estimated in an indirect way.”
The results of this study were published in the international journal Nature Communications.
Medical Today Reporter Lee Han-hee ([email protected])
[저작권자ⓒ 메디컬투데이. 무단전재-재배포 금지]
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