Document Type
Article
Language
eng
Publication Date
7-2010
Publisher
Public Library of Science
Source Publication
PLoS Biology
Source ISSN
1932-6203
Original Item ID
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0011820
Abstract
The mechanisms that induce Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are largely unknown thereby deterring the development of disease-modifying therapies. One working hypothesis of AD is that Aβ excess disrupts membranes causing pore formation leading to alterations in ionic homeostasis. However, it is largely unknown if this also occurs in native brain neuronal membranes. Here we show that similar to other pore forming toxins, Aβ induces perforation of neuronal membranes causing an increase in membrane conductance, intracellular calcium and ethidium bromide influx. These data reveal that the target of Aβ is not another membrane protein, but that Aβ itself is the cellular target thereby explaining the failure of current therapies to interfere with the course of AD. We propose that this novel effect of Aβ could be useful for the discovery of anti AD drug capable of blocking these "Aβ perforates". In addition, we demonstrate that peptides that block Aβ neurotoxicity also slow or prevent the membrane-perforating action of Aβ.
Recommended Citation
Sepulveda, Fernando; Parodi, Jorge; Peoples, Robert W.; Opazo, Carlos; and Aguayo, Luis G., "Synaptotoxicity of Alzheimer Beta Amyloid Can Be Explained by Its Membrane Perforating Property" (2010). Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications. 8.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/biomedsci_fac/8
Comments
Published version. PLoS Biology, Vol. 5, No. 7 (July 2010): e11820. DOI. © 2010 Public Library of Science. Published under Creative Commons License CC BY 4.0.