Newly Identified Brain Protein May Be Key in Alzheimer’s Disease

A protein recently discovered in the brain could play a key role in regulating the creation of amyloid beta, the major component of plaques implicated in the development of Alzheimer’s Disease.  Domenico Pratico, from Temple University School of Medicine (Pennsylvania, USA), and colleagues discovered the presence of the protein, known as 12/15-Lipoxygenase, in the brain three years ago. Following two years of study, the researchers have revealed that the protein is at the top of a pathway and controls a biochemical chain reaction that begins the development of Alzheimer’s. Specifically, 12/15-Lipoxygenase controls Beta secretase (BACE-1), an enzyme that is key to the development of amyloid plaques. The study authors conclude that: “Our findings demonstrate a novel pathway by which [12/15-Lipoxygenase] increases the amyloidogenic processing of [amyloid precursor protein]… BACE1 levels that could have implications for [Alzheimer’s Disease] pathogenesis and therapy. “