Identifying Therapeutic Targets to Prevent Amyloid Accumulation

Project Summary

Although amyloid-beta gets considerable research attention as the protein forming the chacteristic plaques of Alzheimer's disease, other proteins are involved in its accumulation. Arun Upadhyay, PhD, and his colleagues have used novel protein surveying tools to newly identify key proteins associated with fibril formation. 

Using lab models, they plan to tag the newly identified proteins with isotope labels that will let them follow the behavior and location of these molecules. Their work has already distinguish proteins involved in early versus late amyloid-beta interactions.

Using the "early interactors," the researchers plan to assess their function in the early process of amyloid-beta fibril formation. This work will help identify the proteins with the most prominent roles. The resulting better understanding of how these fibrils form and important proteins involved in the process may offer new paths to treatment targets for several diseases, including Alzheimer's disease.