Mayo Clinic scientists believe they’ve found an enzyme that could defeat Alzheimer’s disease by destroying the brain-clogging protein that is a hallmark of the condition as it advances.
They’ve zeroed in on BACE2, which appeared to chop the notorious beta amyloid into smaller sections. This effectively destroys the protein, and at a rate much better than other tested enzymes, according to the research. It cuts into APP, a larger protein of which beta amyloid is a part, right into the middle of the beta amyloid section, preventing its production.
If BACE2 sounds familiar, it’s because there is also a BACE1 enzyme, which the researchers note places the first cut into APP to make beta amyloid in the first place. Drug developers including Merck ($MRK) are actively eyeing BACE1 as an Alzheimer’s drug target.
Read more of this September 17, 2012 article by Mark Hollmer of Fierce Research: Mayo Clinic spies enzyme that destroys brain-clogging Alzheimer’s protein – FierceBiotech Research