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Author (L) describes the pore pictures as "strong circumstantial evidence." But he is determined to collect more compelling evidence or disprove the hypothesis in the attempt.
Working with a Drosophila model of Parkinson's developed by Author (F), (L)`s group plans to create transgenic flies with mutations in the genetic sequence for alpha-synuclein. One set of mutations will accelerate synuclein fibril formation and prevent pore formation. The other set will promote pore formation but prevent fibril formation. (L)`s team also wants to find small, organic, druglike molecules that will do the same thing. The researchers will then determine which of the flies display Parkinson's symptoms and whether disease symptoms correlate, as expected, with the presence of pores rather than fibrils. They also plan to do similar work with mice.
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