BACE1 tagged posts

Images: 1. RHEB, Ras homolog enriched in brain  2. BACE1

TSRI Florida scientists have made an important discovery toward the development of drugs to treat age-related memory loss in diseases like Alzheimer’s. They found that reduced levels of a protein called Rheb result in spontaneous symptoms of memory loss in animal models and are linked to increased levels of another protein known to be elevated in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients. Subramaniam’s group investigated the link between Rheb and an important enzyme called BACE1, which is elevated in older adults and people with Alzheimer’s disease.

“We know that Rheb regulates BACE1, which is a major drug target in Alzheimer’s disease,” Subramaniam said...

It could lead to the development of new drugs to treat the disease. The study found that the protein fragment, sAPPα, inhibits the proteolytic enzyme BACE1. Increased BACE1 activity contributes to production of the amyloid beta aggregates and plaques that are the hallmark of Alzheimer’s.

“Because sAPPα inhibits the BACE1 enzyme, it may be possible that it can be used to help prevent potentially dangerous increases in BACE1 activity, and thus prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease,” A/Prof Varghese John.

The protein fragment sAPPa is normally produced by neurons and is involved in maintenance of memory...