[CarolynS]

Unfolding amyloid secrets.

January 20, 2011

Scientists from the University of Leeds have made a fundamental step in the search for therapies for amyloid-related diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and diabetes mellitus. By pin-pointing the reaction that kick-starts the formation of amyloid fibres, scientists can now seek to further understand how these fibrils develop and cause disease.




Unfolding Pathogenesis In Parkinson's; Breakthrough Suggests Damaged Proteins Travel Between Cells

Medical News Today Thu, 20 Jan 2011 07:36 AM PST

The misfolding of abnormal proteins in brain cells is a key element in Parkinson's disease development. A recent study suggests that the sick proteins slowly move between cells, eventually triggering the destruction of the new host cell. The discovery could potentially lead to new therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases aimed at blocking the spread of protein misfolding throughout the brain.