AsianScientist (Aug. 4, 2016) – Researchers in Japan have developed a new photocatalyst that selectively oxygenates only amyloid structure aggregates associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The results of this research were published in Nature Chemistry.
Damage to nerve cells by aggregates of amyloid beta (Aβ) is thought to be responsible for the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. As a result, researchers are constantly in search of new treatments to suppress the aggregation of Aβ.
The University of Tokyo group had previously developed a photocatalyst that oxygenated Aβ when irradiated with light, thereby suppressing its aggregation. However, in addition to Aβ, the catalyst also oxygenated other biomolecules that play important roles in the body.
In the present study, the research group developed a photocatalyst that distinguishes only amyloid structures in Aβ aggregates by coupling it with a peptide that targets Aβ. The peptide-conjugated photocatalyst selectively oxygenated Aβ in cells, suppressing both aggregation activity and toxicity.
“We had to modify the catalysts many times by trial and error, but finally we successfully developed a catalyst that can sense and selectively oxygenate only amyloid structures of Aβ aggregates,” said Dr. Youhei Sohma, who led the research.
The researchers plan to test the new photocatalyst in animal studies. They intend to modify the catalyst to require only minimal amounts of light energy for oxygenation and have increased selectivity for amyloid structures in Aβ aggregates.
The article can be found at: Taniguchi et al. (2016) Switchable Photooxygenation Catalysts that Sense Higher-Order Amyloid Structures.
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Source: University of Tokyo.
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