New Alzheimer's Finding

 

 

 

According to an article written by Rich Nauert, an enzyme that destroys beta-amyloid, the toxic protein that is accumulated in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, has been discovered. This enzyme known as BACE2 was found to lower beta-amyloid much more effectively than any other enzymes that have been previously discovered. BACE2 is closely related to BACE1, the enzyme responsible for creating beta-amyloid, but in turn does the opposite. Beta-amyloid is a smaller fragment of a large protein, known as APP, and is created when enzymes cut APP in two places. BACE1 is responsible for making the cut that generates beta-amyloid, and BACE2 is shown to cut beta-amyloid into smaller pieces, in turn destroying it. BACE2 cuts the beta-amyloid portion in the middle, unlike the BACE1, which prevents beta-amyloid production. BACE2 has now been looked at as a very good candidate for gene therapy to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Further research suggests that impairments in BACE2 might increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Although this enzyme can lower beta-amyloid by two mechanisms, only the new discovered method is relevant to the disease. Alzheimer’s being the most common memory disorder in the United States, affecting over 5 million people, causes many researchers to continue their studies to find effective treatments. The next step in this research referring to BACE2 is to study whether blocking beta-amyloid destruction by BACE2 increases the risk for Alzheimer’s disease. This will first be tests in a mouse model of the disease.

 

 

Article : http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/09/19/enzyme-found-that-destroys-alzheimers-plaques/44753.html

 

Written by : Klaudia Zdybel