PKC alpha tagged posts

One Alzheimer’s-associated mutation in the PKC protein leads to a cavity that enhances its activity. Credit: UC San Diego Health

Researchers found Protein Kinase C (PKC) alpha is necessary for amyloid beta to damage neuronal connections. They also identified genetic variations that enhance PKC alpha activity in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The study may present a new therapeutic target for the disease. “Until recently, it was thought that PKC helped cells survive, and that too much PKC activity led to cancer. Based on that assumption, many companies tested PKC inhibitors as drugs to treat cancer, but they didn’t work,” said Prof Alexandra Newton, PhD, UC SD School of Medicine.

“Instead, we recently found that the opposite is true...