Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Model based In Vitro Assay Services

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is the most common form of motor neuron disease, characterized by progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the nervous system. Creative Biolabs offers both standard and customized in vitro, in vivoand ex vivo services tailored for ALS research.

Available In Vitro Models

Fig.1 Detection of FUS cytoplasmic mislocalisation.¹

Available Assays

Utilizing our expertise and the models described above, we have developed a series of assays for use in ALS research. Through rigorous internal testing, we assure high quality quantitative and qualitative data, allowing for precise assessment of therapeutic interventions.

• Protein Aggregation and Delocalize.

ALS-associated Protein Aggregation Assay: Determines the presence of aggregated proteins and qualify/quantify the amount of aggregation, including mutant SOD1, TDP-43, FUS, and C9orf72.

A hallmark of ALS is dysregulation of nucleocytoplasmic transport. We offer several readouts for measuring localization, including blotting, live-cell imaging, confocal microscopy and more. Using our decades of expertise, we can work with you to select the relevant targets and readouts for your project.

• Motor Neuron Health and Viability

Cell Viability Assay: Creative Biolabs offers a range of cell viability assays based on reduced neuronal activity, metabolic activity, cellular ATP production, and/or live-cell imaging to support your projects.

Neurite Length and Branching: This assay measures motor neuron projection length and complexity under conditions of interest, which is indicative of neuronal development and function.

• Neuronal Excitability and Electrophysiology

Electrophysiological Recordings: Our electrophysiology platform provides valuable insight into neuronal health and activity by monitoring the potential and current across the membrane of a neuron. This assay can help evaluate neuronal health and function under disease conditions or following treatment with a compound of interest.

Microelectrode Array (MEA) Assay: Microelectrode arrays (MEAs) are ideal for assessing neuronal health and activity across a population of neurons. MEA allows simultaneously measures multiple parameters, including mean firing rate, spike rate, burst duration, synchronicity, and more. Compared to traditional electrophysiology methods like voltage clamp recording, MEA provides insight into the relationships between neurons under disease or treatment conditions by monitoring many cells at once.

Through our high-quality assays and expert consulting, we at Creative Biolabs are committed to supporting researchers in unraveling the complexities of ALS pathology, enhancing the drug discovery, and facilitating effective treatments for ALS.

For consultations and inquiries, please feel free to contact us for more information.

Reference

1. Oyston, Lisa J., et al. "Rapid in vitro quantification of TDP-43 and FUS mislocalisation for screening of gene variants implicated in frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis." Scientific Reports 11.1 (2021): 14881. Distributed under Open Access license CC BY 4.0, without modification.