How small molecule can take apart Alzheimer's disease protein fibers

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Alzheimers fibers without DAPH (left). Note uniform fibers. Alzheimers proteins with DAPH (right). Note fibers have broken up. Credit: James Shorter PhD University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Alzheimer's fibers without DAPH (left). Note uniform fibers. Alzheimer's proteins with DAPH (right). Note fibers have broken up. Credit: James Shorter, PhD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have shown, in unprecedented detail, how a small molecule is able to selectively take apart abnormally folded protein fibers connected to Alzheimer's disease and prion diseases. The findings appear online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Finding a way to dismantle misfolded proteins has implications for new treatments for a host of neurodegenerative diseases.


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