Dissemin is shutting down on January 1st, 2025

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Cell Press, Trends in Biochemical Sciences, 11(35), p. 643-651

DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2010.05.007

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Zooming Into Protein Oligomerization in Neurodegeneration Using BiFC

Journal article published in 2010 by Susana A. Gonçalves ORCID, Joana E. Matos, Tiago F. Outeiro
This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

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Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Several neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the accumulation of misfolded and aggregated proteins, which lead to neurotoxicity. However, the nature of those toxic species is controversial. Developments in optical microscopy and live-cell imaging are essential in providing crucial insight into the molecular mechanisms involved. In particular, the technique of bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) represents a remarkable improvement for observing protein-protein interactions within living cells. Unlike other techniques, BiFC provides spatial and temporal resolution and can be carried out in a physiological environment. Among other applications, BiFC has been used to study molecular determinants of oligomerization in neurodegenerative disorders, thereby promising to unveil novel targets for therapeutics. We review the applicability of BiFC for investigating the molecular basis of neurodegenerative diseases associated with protein misfolding and aggregation.