Issues

α-Synuclein (α-Syn) forms different higher order assemblies during the process of aggregation into amyloid fibrils, which has pathological implications in Parkinson's disease. Recently liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of α-Syn has emerged as a prominent early stage event in the aggregation pathway. With time, α-Syn LLPS undergoes liquid-to-solid transition and subsequently forms amyloid fibrils. The phase-separated droplets eventually fuse/grow into a larger manifestation of a hydrogel containing amyloid fibrils. In this illustration, the hourglass represents time dependent LLPS and subsequent liquid-to-solid transition followed by amyloid fibril formation. For further information see the review in this issue by Poudyal and colleagues (pages 987-1000). Image credit Pradeep Kadu and Dr. Soumik Ray.