Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a method of treating or preventing a neurodegenerative disease, comprising the step of administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor of the formation of advanced glycation end products. Another aspect of the invention relates to a proteasome activity-based screening assay to select compounds which may be useful for treating or preventing a neurodegenerative disease, and the materials used therein. Yet another aspect of the invention relates to molecules, and methods of use thereof, which bind at or adjacent to SOD-I Trp32, including molecules that bind in a site adjacent to SOD-I Trp32 whether or not it is oxidized, for treating or preventing neurodegenerative disease.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a method for the preparation of samples for MALDI MS imaging. Certain embodiments relate to a method of matrix deposition for samples, wherein tissue sections are prepared via a synergistic combination of fixation with matrix. In certain embodiments, tissue is fixed with cold solvent, according to well-established histology protocols, and in the presence of matrix, allowing for high resolution spatial mapping of protein, lipid, sugar, and/or nucleic acid distribution. In certain embodiments, the present invention relates to fixation with matrix of whole organisms. In certain embodiments, animals are perfused with fixation and matrix mixtures, which allows for direct mass spectrometry analysis.