Investigating the Structural Dynamics and Interactions of S100A9 and Alpha-Synuclein using SANS

S100A9 is a pro-inflammatory, calcium binding protein that is a key inflammatory marker within the brain. Elevated levels of S100A9 have been shown to be linked with aging and the onset of neurodegenerative conditions including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease. S100A9 is intrinsically amyloidogenic and readily forms amyloid fibrils. Interestingly though its presence also promotes the onset of alpha-synuclein deposition, a hallmark for Parkinson's Disease. Here SANS will be used to study the interaction between S100A9 and alpha-synuclein to determine how S100A9 promotes alpha-synuclein aggression and influences the conformational state it adopts, a property recently shown to influence the onset and progression of pathology. This data will complement site specific data obtained from solid-state NMR to provide insights into how this neuroinflammatory process could be targeted as a novel site for therapeutic intervention.