Structure of enzyme offers treatment clues for diabetes, Alzheimer's

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The molecular surface of IDE is represented by light yellow. The N- and C-terminal domains of IDE are colored green and red respectively. The beta-amyloid (blue) is entrapped inside the degradation chamber of the IDE molecule. Credit: Yuequan Shen Un ...
The molecular surface of IDE is represented by light yellow. The N- and C-terminal domains of IDE are colored green and red, respectively. The beta-amyloid (blue) is entrapped inside the degradation chamber of the IDE molecule. Credit: Yuequan Shen, Univ. of Chicago

Researchers from the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory have deciphered the three-dimensional structure of insulin-degrading enzyme, a promising target for new drugs because it breaks down not only insulin but also the amyloid-beta protein, which has been linked to the cognitive decline of Alzheimer's disease.


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