William Atkins
Monday, 17 November 2008 20:32
Science -
Health
Page 2 of 3
Alzheimer’s disease is thought to be caused by a decrease in the number of neurons in the brain due to an increase in the number of toxic multimers (molecules with many parts) of a protein called amyloid-β (Aβ).
The researchers state in the abstract to their paper,
“Previously in the search for chemopreventatives for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), microbial cells with amyloid-β (Aβ) protein fusions have been used to screen for compounds that reduce the aggregation, misfolding or oligomerization due to Aβ.”
Lead author in the study, Dr. Macreadie, states in the November 17, 2008 CSIRO media release,
"However, a team of scientists working within CSIRO's Preventative Health Flagship has discovered a rapid screening system to identify inhibitors of this process. Compounds that inhibit the formation of the toxic multimers may lead to the prevention or delay of the disease.” [CSIRO: “
Alzheimer's disease breakthrough”]
They state,
“This result supports a protective role for folate and suggests that yeast assays may provide significant new approaches for testing of AD chemopreventatives.”
A picture of such yeast cells is shown
here.
Macreadie continues,
"Although many other research groups and drug companies around the world are trying to find compounds that act in the same way, the advance by the Flagship team involves using live yeast with the Aβ protein fused to a green fluorescent protein that comes from jellyfish.”
"The significance of this development is that the yeast trial we developed could lead to the discovery of new agents which may prove useful in preventing or delaying the onset of Alzheimer's disease."
Page three concludes the story.
