Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) (micro)spectroscopy could help you.

Dear Diletta

Thanks for your answer. Nevertheless, as I know FTIR show me the structure of protein. Do you mean that I have to extract the cell lysate and evaluate it by FTIR?

Would you please explain me the protocol in more details or introduce me some references?

Regards,

Farhang

Hi Farhang,

Our lab just published a paper (below) describing a sensitive and quantitative assay to measure protein aggregates from a variety of sources, including cell lysates. The assay combines an alpha-synuclein FRET biosensor cell line and a FRET detection system (flow cytometer or fluorescence plate reader) to measure that amount of aggregates (seeds) present in your sample. 

For your purposes, you could screen your cell lysates by applying them to our biosensor cell line. We would be more than happy to send you the cells.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25261551

Brandon

Hi Farhang,

I'm not sure if you're still looking into this but here are protocols we use for thioflavin T and cell culture assays to detect alpha synuclein aggregation:

https://www.stressmarq.com/support/technical-support/protocols/alpha-synuclein-protocols/

Good luck!

Dear Patricia,

Hello there,

Many thanks for sharing me the protocols you use. Although, It has been a long time, we are still working on it.

Best regards,

Farhang

Hello,

I came across your question, since I am also interested in ASyn aggregation and clearance. I find that overexpressing ASyn gives a diffuse expression of the protein. Are there any treatments proven to precipitate the aggregation of ASyn in cell culture?

Thanks and good luck with your research!