Amyloid inhibitors and beta-sheet breakers.
Compelling evidence indicates that a key pathological event in Alzheimer's disease is the misfolding and aggregation of normal soluble amyloid-beta peptide into beta-sheet-rich oligomeric structures which have a neurotoxic activity and ability to form insoluble amyloid deposits that accumulate in the brain. beta-sheet breakers constitute a new class of drugs that are designed to specifically bind amyloid-beta peptide blocking and/or reversing the misfolding process. In this article we review this approach and summarize the data supporting the view that beta-sheet breakers could be serious candidates to combat this devastating disease.
Soto
Claudio
C
Protein Misfolding Disorders Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
Estrada
Lisbell
L
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D000682:Amyloid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D046911:Macromolecular Substances
D000682:Amyloid; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D046911:Macromolecular Substances