Extraction of amyloid beta from mouse brain

DEA extraction

DEA extraction isolates non-plaque-associated amyloid beta.

1. Prepare a solution of 0.2% DEA in 50 mM NaCl.
2. Homogenize brain using the 0.2% DEA solution at a concentration of 100 mg tissue/mL on ice.
3. Centrifuge at 100,000 g for 1 h at 4°C (54,000 rpm in 100.3 rotor).
4. Take the supernatant, which contains the soluble fraction, and neutralize by adding 1/10 volume 0.5 M Tris HCl pH 6.8. Vortex gently.
5. Neutralized samples can be analyzed by ELISA without further dilution or can be flash-frozen on dry ice and stored at -70°C.
6. Pellets can be retained and frozen if further extraction is required.
7. The pellet can also be used for western blot of full-length amyloid precursor protein.

FA extraction

FA extraction isolates deposited plaque-associated amyloid beta.

FA neutralization solution: (1 M Tris base, 0.5 M Na_​2HPO₄, 0.05% NaN₃)

• 60.57 g Tris base
• 35.5 g Na​₂HPO₄ 
• 2.5 mL 10% NaN_​3
• Add H₂O to 500 mL; pH is not adjusted; store and use at room temperature
• CAUTION: Sodium azide (NaN₃) is highly toxic

1. Mix 200 µL 10% (w/v) homogenate into 440 µL cold formic acid (minimum 95%, Sigma, 5-0507) in a microcentrifuge tube.
2. Sonicate each sample individually for 1 min on ice. Immerse the tip of the probe in the sample, then move tube up and down while sonicating.
3. Spin 400 µL at 135,000 x g for 1 h at 4°C (50,000 rpm in a TLA 100.3 rotor).
4. Dilute 210 µL supernatant into 4 mL of room temperature FA neutralization solution. Mix briefly.
5. FA neutralization solution is stored and used at room temperature, as a precipitate will form if it is stored at 4°C or placed on ice.
6. Aliquot and flash freeze on dry ice.
7. Incubate at 37°C for 5 min prior to loading onto ELISA plates to clarify solution and solubilize precipitate.