A novel function of the Amyloid Precursor Protein, one of the main pathogenic culprits of Alzheimers disease, has been discovered by researchers. This discovery may help researchers understand how the protein goes awry in the brains of Alzheimers disease patients, and potentially paves the way for the development of innovative therapeutics to improve the brain function of dementia patients. >>They discovered that APP can control the growth and maturation of newborn brain cells, which are critical for the maintenance of a healthy brain function. >>APP does this by regulating a target known as microRNA-574-5-p. MicroRNAs are small molecules that influence the expression of human genes. >>ie APP antagonises it to ensure the timely birth of new neurons to support normal brain function. Thus, APP controls the growth and maturation of brain cells, without which neuron expression can go unregulated and cause brain activities to go haywire. Our findings highlight that microRNA-574-5p may be a potentially useful new target for drug development against Alzheimers disease. sciencedaily/releases/2014/04/140421094415.htm
Posted on: Mon, 21 Apr 2014 19:05:04 +0000
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