From green bacteria to human dementia: a novel model for discovering amyloid assembly inhibitors.
The formation of amyloid assemblies is associated with major human disorders. Yet no therapeutic agents presently exist to control this process. In a recent paper, a new bacterial system is described that uses a fusion of the Alzheimer's disease beta-amyloid polypeptide to the GFP. The assay detects the formation of small, soluble amyloid intermediates associated with degenerative diseases. This assay allows the researchers to use high-throughput screening methods to find inhibitors of the formation of amyloid assemblies.
Gazit
Ehud
E
Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel. ehudg@post.tau.ac.il
D000682:Amyloid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D003704:Dementia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry
D000682:Amyloid; D010455:Peptides; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins