title: Amyloid beta.
abstract: Amyloid beta (A beta) is a 39-43 residue amyloidogenic peptide that is deposited into the extracellular amyloid plaques which characterize an Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain. A beta is derived from the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and undergoes a toxic conformational change (gain of toxic function). The length of the A beta peptide dramatically influences its properties with the longer 42 and 43 residue species being more amyloidogenic. The genetics of familial AD (FAD) supports a central role for A beta in AD since mutations in the FAD causing genes APP and the presenilins (PS1 and PS2) increase the formation of A beta 42,43. Considerable activity is directed towards A beta as a therapeutic target. These strategies aim to inhibit A beta synthesis, A beta fibril formation, its toxic actions on cells or promote its clearance from the brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia. r.cappai@pathology.unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cappai
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000209:etiology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides