title: Conformational disease.
abstract: Several diverse disorders, including the prevalent dementias and encephalopathies, are now believed to arise from the same general disease mechanism. In each, there is abnormal unfolding and then aggregation of an underlying protein. The gradual accumulation of these aggregates and the acceleration of their formation by stress explain the characteristic late or episodic onset of the clinical disease. The understanding of these processes at the molecular level is opening prospects of more rational approaches to investigation and therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, MRC Centre, Addenbrooke's Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Carrell
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lomas
mesh_terms: D000682:Amyloid / Q000737:chemistry; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D003704:Dementia / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008967:Molecular Biology; D011328:Prions / Q000737:chemistry; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017510:Protein Folding; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D015843:Serpins / Q000737:chemistry; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000682:Amyloid; D011328:Prions; D011506:Proteins; D015843:Serpins; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin