Brain
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Development of therapeutic peptides for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

Institution: Ulm University Hospital, Department for General and Visceral Surgery
Applicant: Dr. rer. nat. Joachim Bischof
Funding line:
First and Second Applications
By using specific peptides binding of the enzymes CK1δ and CK1ε to tau and/or the amyloid precursor protein can be blocked and characteristic damage caused by aggregation of tau and amyloid-beta can be reduced.

In brains of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease increased levels of aggregated tau and amyloid-beta protein can be observed. In the underlying processes, modifications of these proteins, like phosphorylation, play a crucial role. Our novel therapeutic approach does not target inhibition of the activity of the (co-)responsible enzymes CK1δ and CK1ε in general, but will block their interactions with specific cellular proteins. This is made possible by using short protein fragments, so called peptides. Instead of the enzymes CK1δ or CK1ε these peptides will be able to bind to tau or the amyloid precursor protein in order to inhibit their disease-associated modification. In the following, the development of characteristic cell damage can be prevented or reduced.

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