According to a recent press release scientists at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research have made an important discovery about a protein called amyloid, which is associated with diseases like Huntington's, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's. They have figured out the first step in the formation of amyloid in Huntington's disease and have proposed a new way to stop it.
The researchers found that the first step in amyloid formation, called the nucleus, forms within a single protein molecule. They studied the protein responsible for Huntington's disease and discovered that the nucleus starts a chain reaction that kills cells.
The researchers also found that clumping the proteins together in cells prevented amyloid formation. This could be a new approach for developing treatments. They plan to further explore this avenue using mice and brain organoids.
The researchers used a new technique called Distributed Amphifluoric Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (DAmFRET) to observe the nucleation event that triggers amyloid formation. By designing and testing specific patterns of amino acids, they identified the minimum structure needed for amyloid formation.
This research provides insights into the structure of amyloid and could help develop treatments for amyloid-related diseases. It also suggests a connection between aging and amyloids, which may lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms behind aging. The findings give hope for individuals with diseases related to amyloids and offer a potential way to prevent or delay the formation of amyloid, which could be beneficial for patients.