Anavex Life Sciences Corp (AVXL)

[georgejjl]

Elimination of ß-amyloid plaques via macroautophagy

The buildup of ß-amyloids (Aß) contribute to plaque formation in the brain, leading to Alzheimer’s disease. Protein fragments such as Aßs would theoretically be consumed by autophagosomes and then digested, but a study by Yu et al. showed that autophagy is induced in Alzheimer’s-afflicted mice, but autophagosomes unnaturally build up (2005). They hypothesize that the formation of lysosomes from these autophagic vacuoles is inhibited. To investigate the cause of this inhibition, APP/PS1 mutant mice, which exhibit Aß-buildup, should be used in the same manner of Yu et al. as a model organism. Fortunado et al. show that autolysosome fusion is impaired by a depletion in the membrane protein Lamp-2 (2009). Differences in membrane proteins in AD and control mice would be explored in addition to possible defects in their corresponding regulatory genes. Any observed reductions in proteins or differential expression of related genes could indicate a cause of impaired autophagosome-lysosome fusion.

https://www.lakeforest.edu/live/news/5512-the-importance-and-practical-application-of

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