Catalog

ASAP is committed to accelerating the pace of discovery and informing a path to a cure for Parkinson’s disease through collaboration, research-enabling resources, and data sharing. We’ve created this catalog to showcase the research outputs and tools developed by ASAP-funded programs.

Protocol

Isolation and processing of embryonic and postnatal brains

This protocol describes:
-Harvesting embryos from females from embryonic day 10 [e10] to embryonic day 18 [e18]
-Brain isolation of embryonic (e10-e18) and postnatal brains (p0-p30)
-Processing and freezing of embryonic and postnatal brains.

Protocol

Immunofluorescence staining for postmortem mouse brain tissue

This is a basic protocol for staining mouse brain tissues using immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry techniques.

Protocol

Immunofluorescent labeling of cultured cells

This protocol describes the process of Paraformaldehyde fixation [PFA-fixation] and immunofluorescent-labeling of cultured cells.

Protocol

Coating coverslips for cell culture

Coated coverslips provide a nourishing adherent surface for cell culture. This protocol provides step by step instruction on how to coat coverslips for cell culture.

Article

R1441C and G2019S LRRK2 knock-in mice have distinct striatal molecular, physiological, and behavioral alterations

Publication: LRRK2 mutations are closely associated with PD. Convergent evidence suggests that LRRK2 regulates striatal function. Here, by using knock-in mouse lines expressing the two most common LRRK2 pathogenic mutations – G2019S and R1441C – the authors investigated how LRRK2 mutations altered striatal physiology. View original preprint.

 

Article

Dopaminergic axons track somatic signaling in behaving mice

Preprint: Striatal dopamine released from the axons of midbrain dopamine neurons has been linked to a wide range of functions, including movement control and reward-based learning. Here, authors used genetic strategies to isolate key dopaminergic neuron subtypes and monitor their axonal and somatic signaling patterns in behaving mice.

Article

Molecular heterogeneity in the substantia nigra: a roadmap for understanding PD motor pathophysiology

Review: This article discusses the existing knowledge of DA neuron subtypes and attempts to provide a roadmap for how their distinctive properties can provide novel insights into the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Protocol

Acute striatal or midbrain fiber photometry in head-fixed mice

While this protocol focuses recordings from striatum with GCaMP, it can be easily modified to record from other brain regions and with other fluorescent reporters.

Protocol

Adhesive Removal Test to assess sensorimotor deficits in parkinsonian mice

This behavior is used to assess fine motor movements in a mouse Parkinsonian model. It checks for correct paw and mouth sensitivity (time-to-contact) and correct dexterity (time-to-remove).

Protocol

Catalepsy test (Bar test)

The catalepsy test (bar test) was developed to test motor coordination and motor impairments.

Protocol

Create mask for axonal quantification analysis with FIJI

This protocol describes how to create a quantified mask from an image of fluorescence-tagged axonal projections using FIJI/ImageJ software.

Protocol

Genotyping mice from ear clips

This protocol describes the genotyping procedure from ear clip samples. This includes a general PCR protocol for primers with annealing temperatures in the range 55-70 degrees C. For other primers, the thermal cycling should be adjusted.

Protocol

Endosome isolation

Subcellular fractionation to isolate early and late endosomes (EEs and LEs) by performing a series of centrifugation steps.